From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpacepace1 /peɪs/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 speed of events/changes [singular]SPEED the speed at which something happens or is donepace 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]WALKRUN the speed at which someone walks, runs, or movespace 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]WALK a single step when you are running or walking, or the distance you move in one steppace 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)5 → go through your paces6 → put somebody/something through their paces7 → set the pace8 → force the pace9 → be able to stand the paceCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + pacerapid/fastThe rapid pace of change creates uncertainty.slowThe pace of life in the countryside is slower.a steady paceThe 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.verbsthe pace quickens/acceleratesThe pace of change is quickening.the pace slows/slackensAfter 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.phrasesthe pace of changeThe pace of change accelerated dramatically in the early 1980s.the pace of lifeHere, the sun shines every day and the pace of life is slower.the pace of developmentThe pace of development in computer graphics is amazing.the pace of reformSome senior party figures favor a slower pace of reform.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘in your own pace’ or ‘on your own pace’. Say at your own pace.
Examples from the Corpus
pace• About 20 paces from the house is an old oak tree.• And it built them at a pace that would have left the most ambitious pharaoh dazzled-something like six hundred in sixty years.• They stood close to the door, the boy a pace behind the official.• These are the experiences of monotony, fragmentation and excessive pace in work and social interaction patterns.• Eddie walked a few paces behind his mother, his head hung low.• We climbed at a leisurely pace, stopping occasionally to enjoy the view.• He took a couple of paces forward, then stopped.• There are obvious benefits in allowing each student to go at his own pace.• The Kumon method involves students learning at their own pace.• I'm enjoying the relaxed pace of life of Jamaica.• He fell from power in 1987, resigning from the Politburo over the slow pace of reform.• The soldiers were marching at a steady pace.• I'd gone about ten paces, when I heard a strange sound behind me.• Finally I got the ax to stick from ten paces.• The numbers grew and the pace of activity became a thick and steady march.• Since November, the pace of borrowing likely slowed as department and chain stores reported dismal holiday sales.• The pace of political change has been rapid.• Paul stepped three paces into the room and dropped his bag.walking pace• Walking pace often seems to give us the pulse of a movement; and walking pace and heartbeat are often linked.• Riders are sometimes slowed to a walking pace and punch the supporters who try to embrace them.• You advance at walking pace behind the barrage.• The target was man-shaped, man-sized, and was moved electronically across the sandbagged wall at a brisk walking pace.• I trotted for half a block or so, then switched back to my brisk walking pace.• Even with the wind of generosity at their back, why did they travel at a man's walking pace?• Most sports contain the vital ingredient of moving your legs forward at a quicker-than-walking pace.took ... pace• Charlie took a pace backwards and stared up at the name above the shop.• The three men in grey suits each took a pace forward.• Then he took a pace forward and she saw he was dressed in the russet smock of a verderer.• Then the burial party took a pace to the right and began digging the grave of another known soldier.pacepace2 verb 1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive]WALK 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.► see thesaurus at walk2 → pace yourself3 [transitive] (also pace something ↔ off, pace something ↔ out)TM to measure a distance by walking across it with steps of equal length The director paced out the length of the stage.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
pace• I went back to the tree, and I found Barbra pacing.• The Doctor paced around the excavation measuring the depth and imprint of the relics.• Sarah paced back and forth along the corridor, waiting for the doctor to come back.• I was pacing in the next room, talking to the Lord.• I need someone to pace me or I fall too far behind.• He paced off the distance just to make sure.• Meryl was also awake, pacing the floor in her dressing-gown.• She paced the floor, waiting until she judged the rooms would be full of people.• Stewart was pacing the floor while watching the game on TV.• Kernan paced the Monarchs with 17 points and 15 rebounds.• Emmanuel Adigun and Haywood Vital paced the second-half surge for the Wildcats with 14 and 11 points, respectively.• Augusta resumed her pacing, throwing her hands outward in little distracted gestures.• A lion paced up and down the cage, growling.• "We're going to be late, '' Jordan said irritably, pacing up and down the room.• He began pacing up and down the room.pace the floor/room• As she moved closer to him on the sofa, he leapt to his feet and began pacing the floor.• Then I began to pace the floor and think about this thing.• He had spent a ruinous and totally sleepless night, pacing the floors but being able to find no solace.• He might wake to watch her pacing the room in the dark, hour after hour.• Augusta rose and paced the room, stopped and put the heels of both palms against her temples.• She paced the floor, waiting until she judged the rooms would be full of people.• He was pacing the floor when Dannie Bulman spun a deep cross into the Leicester penalty area.From Longman Business Dictionarypacepace /peɪs/ noun [singular]1the rate or speed at which something happensThe average price of a new car began to soar at a faster pace than household incomes.2keep pace (with) to change at the same rate as someone or something elseNext year’s spending may not even keep pace with inflation.Demand continues to keep pace, with shipments rising about 2.5%.3set the pace to establish the speed at which your competitors try to do something, or the standard of quality they try to achieveIt continues to set the pace for all other local shopping complexes.Origin pace1 (1200-1300) Old French pas “step”, from Latin passus 