I. pace 1 W3 /peɪs/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: pas 'step' , from Latin passus ]
1 . SPEED OF EVENTS/CHANGES [singular] the speed at which something happens or is done
pace of
The pace of change in our lives is becoming faster and faster.
at a steady/slow etc pace
Public spending continues to rise at a steady 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) ( 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.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + pace
▪ rapid/fast
The rapid pace of change creates uncertainty.
▪ slow
The pace of life in the countryside is slower.
▪ a steady pace
The economy was growing at a slow but steady pace.
▪ at your own pace (=at the pace that suits you)
This allows each child to learn at his or her own pace.
▪ at a snail’s pace (=very slowly)
Reform is proceeding at a snail’s pace.
▪ a breakneck pace (=extremely fast)
Singapore prospered and modernized at a breakneck pace.
▪ a hectic/frantic pace (=a very fast and hurried speed)
We worked at a hectic pace.
■ verbs
▪ the pace quickens/accelerates
The pace of change is quickening.
▪ the pace slows/slackens
After a surge in exports, the pace slackened considerably the following year.
▪ gather pace (=happen more quickly)
Support for the campaign is gathering pace.
▪ keep up the pace (=continue to do something or happen as quickly as before)
China's society is transforming but can it keep up the pace?
▪ keep up with the pace (=do something as fast as something else is happening or being done)
It's essential that we constantly update our skills and keep up with the pace of change.
■ phrases
▪ the pace of change
The pace of change accelerated dramatically in the early 1980s.
▪ the pace of life
Here, the sun shines every day and the pace of life is slower.
▪ the pace of development
The pace of development in computer graphics is amazing.
▪ the pace of reform
Some senior party figures favor a slower pace of reform.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say ' in your own pace ' or ' on your own pace '. Say at your own pace .
II. pace 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to walk first in one direction and then in another many times, especially because you are nervous:
I found Mark at the hospital, pacing restlessly up and down.
pace the floor/room
Sam stood up and paced the floor, deep in thought.
2 . pace yourself
a) to control the speed that you move at in a race, so that you still have energy left near the end:
Nicky paced herself and came through the ranks to win.
b) to organize your life and activities so that you do not have too much to do:
You need to pace yourself and decide which tasks are the most important.
3 . [transitive] ( also pace something ↔ off , pace something ↔ out ) to measure a distance by walking across it with steps of equal length:
The director paced out the length of the stage.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ walk to move forward by putting one foot in front of the other:
I missed the bus so I decided to walk.
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We’ve walked about eight miles today.
▪ wander to walk without any clear purpose or direction:
They wandered around the narrow streets of the old city.
▪ stride to walk with long steps in a determined, confident, or angry way:
A man in a suit came striding purposefully into the hall.
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She strode onto the stage and began to address the audience.
▪ pace to walk first in one direction and then in another many times, especially because you are nervous:
Nick was pacing up and down, waiting for the phone to ring.
▪ march to walk quickly with firm regular steps – used especially about soldiers or someone who is angry:
The troops marched past with smart uniform and good discipline.
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Sheila marched into the office and demanded an apology.
▪ wade to walk through deep water:
We had to wade across the river.
▪ stomp to walk putting your feet down very hard, especially because you are angry:
She turned and stomped off without looking back.