Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: pas 'step', from Latin passus

pace

1 noun
     
pace1 W3
1

speed of events/changes

[singular] the speed at which something happens or is doneCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
pace of change/reform/growth pace of life at your own pace (=at the pace that suits you) at a rapid/slow/steady etc pace at breakneck pace (=extremely fast) gather pace (=happen more quickly) keep up the pace (=continue to do something or happen as quickly as before) at a snail's pace (=very slowly)
The pace of change in our lives is becoming faster and faster.
Here in Bermuda, the pace of life is very slow.
Public spending continues to rise at a steady pace.
Children learn best by studying at their own pace.
The company had been growing at breakneck pace until last year.
Support for European unity began to gather pace.
If they can keep up the pace, they should have finished by early next week.
Things are changing, but at a snail's pace.
! Do not say 'in your own pace' or 'on your own pace'. Say at your own pace.
2

walk/run

[singular] the speed at which someone walks, runs, or moves
pace of
You need to step up the pace of your exercises.
at a slow/leisurely/brisk etc pace
Lucy set off at a leisurely pace back to the hotel.
He quickened his pace, longing to be home.
Traffic slowed to a walking pace.
3

step

[countable] a single step when you are running or walking, or the distance you move in one step
pace backwards/towards/forwards etc
He took a pace towards the door.
Rebecca walked a few paces behind her mum.
4

keep pace (with something/somebody)

to change or increase as fast as something else, or to move as fast as someone else:
Salaries have not always kept pace with inflation.
The supply of materials cannot keep pace with demand.
Slow down! I can't keep pace with you.
5

go through your paces

also show your paces to show how well you can do something
6

put somebody/something through their paces

to make a person, vehicle, animal etc show how well they can do something:
The test driver puts all the cars through their paces.
7

set the pace

a) if a company sets the pace, it does something before its competitors or to a better standard
set the pace in
Japanese firms have been setting the pace in electronic engineering.
b) DSO also set a brisk/cracking etc pace British English to go faster than the other competitors in a race, who then try to achieve the same speed:
The Italians set the pace for the first eight laps.
8

force the pace

to make something happen or develop more quickly than it would do normally
force the pace on
measures designed to force the pace on alternative energy policies
9

be able to stand the pace

to be able to deal with situations where you are very busy and have to think and act very quickly:
If you can stand the pace, working in advertising pays well.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

ADVERTISING AND MARKETINGANIMALSBANKING
BIOLOGYBUSINESS BASICSCOMPUTERS
CLOTHESDAILY LIFEEDUCATION
FINANCEFOODGRAMMAR
HAIR AND BEAUTYHUMANLAW
MUSICNATURESPORT
STOCKS AND SHARESTECHNOLOGYTRADE