Pace — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb preposition /ˈpās/ (noun) /ˈpā-(ˌ)sē/ (preposition)

Meaning & Definition of Pace

Pace (noun)

  1. rate of movement; especially, an established rate of locomotion
  2. rate of progress; specifically, parallel rate of growth or development
  3. an example to be emulated; specifically, first place in a competition

Pace (verb)

  1. to walk with often slow or measured tread
  2. to move along, proceed
  3. to go at a pace —used especially of a horse

Pace (preposition)

  1. contrary to the opinion of —usually used as an expression of deference to someone's contrary opinion—usually italics

Pace (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in rate, tempo

    similar: clip, gait, rate, tempo, celerity, fastness, fleetness, haste, hurry, quickness, rapidity, rapidness, speed, speediness, swiftness, velocity, drive, hustle, acceleration, hastiness, precipitation, precipitousness, rush, alacrity, dispatch, expedition, expeditiousness, promptitude, promptness, warp speed
    opposite: slowness, sluggishness, languidness, languor, leisureliness, lethargy, torpidity, torpor, reluctance, deliberateness, deliberation, dilatoriness, lateness, pokiness, procrastination

Pace (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move along with a steady regular step especially in a group

    "six jugglers paced neatly alongside one another in the parade"

    similar: file, march, parade, stride
    related: goose-step, perambulate, step, traipse, tread, hike, tramp, lumber, plod, stamp, stomp, trudge
    near: amble, meander, ramble, stroll, wander

  2. to move forward along a course

    "the couple paced through the motions of a marriage, but it was never more than a financial and social arrangement"

    similar: advance, come, come along, do, fare, forge, get along, get on, go, go along, go off, march, proceed, progress, gain ground
    related: accelerate, fast-forward, speed, approach, near, journey, pass, repair, run, travel, wend, actuate, drive, impel, propel, push, take out
    opposite: remain, stand, stay, stop
    near: arrest, balk, block, check, detain, halt, hinder, hold back, impede, nip, obstruct, slow (down or up), stem, repress, retard, stunt, suppress, delay, interrupt, stall, cramp, hamper, inhibit, cease, let up, pause, regress, wait

Related Entry: Keep (verb)

Keep is a different word from Pace. The synonyms below are for keep, not for pace.

  1. to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony

    "keep the Sabbath by not working"

    similar: celebrate, commemorate, observe
    related: bless, consecrate, sanctify, solemnize, fete, honor, laud, praise, memorialize, remember
    opposite: break, transgress, violate
    near: blow off, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

  2. to continue to have in one's possession or power

    "the money is yours to keep"

    "keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone"

    similar: hold, reserve, retain, withhold, hang on to, hold on to
    related: conserve, guard, preserve, protect, save, boast, enjoy, have, own, possess, command, control, detain, direct, manage, rule, bear, harbor, cherish, cling (to), hug, treasure
    opposite: give up, hand over, release, relinquish, surrender, yield
    near: abandon, cede, drop, contribute, donate, give, hand out, discard, dump, decline, reject, repudiate, spurn, lose

  3. to do what is required by the terms of

    "make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter"

    similar: answer, complete, comply (with), fill, fulfill, meet, redeem, satisfy, abide by, make good
    related: conclude, consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, accomplish, achieve, bring about, bring off, carry out, effect, commit, compass, discharge, execute, follow through (with), make, perform
    opposite: breach, break, transgress, violate
    near: default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

  4. to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability

    "I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests"

    similar: put up, reposit, store, stow
    related: cellar, garage, hangar, house, warehouse, file, pack, shelve

  5. to pay the living expenses of

    "agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs"

    similar: maintain, provide (for), support, foot the bill (for), take care of
    related: finance, fund, patronize, set up, sponsor, stake, underwrite

  6. to look after and make decisions about

    "enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away"

    similar: administer, administrate, carry on, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend, watch over
    related: care (for), mind, watch, lead, pilot, steer, guard, protect, safeguard, micromanage, stage-manage, codirect, comanage

  7. to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)

    "try to keep your composure no matter what happens"

    similar: bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame
    related: bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow, arrest, interrupt, stop, block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct, gag, muzzle, silence
    opposite: lose
    near: liberate, loose, loosen, unleash, air, express, take out, vent

  8. to drive danger or attack away from

    "may God bless and keep you"

    similar: bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward, stand up for
    related: avert, prevent, oppose, resist, withstand, battle, contend, fight, war, conserve, preserve, save, buffer, palisade, picket, wall
    opposite: assail, assault, attack
    near: bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield

Related Entry: Keep (from) (verb)

Keep (from) is a different word from Pace. The synonyms below are for keep (from), not for pace.

  1. to resist the temptation of

    "try to keep from eating all the chocolate in one day!"

    similar: abjure, abstain (from), forbear, forgo, refrain (from), withhold (from)
    related: avoid, eschew, shun, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, deny, refuse, reject, repudiate, buck, combat, fight
    opposite: bow (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)
    near: acquiesce (to), capitulate, concede (to), knuckle under (to)

Related Entry: Keep (to) (verb)

Keep (to) is a different word from Pace. The synonyms below are for keep (to), not for pace.

  1. to give steadfast support to

    "always keeps to his political positions, even when they are unpopular"

    similar: adhere (to), cling (to), hew (to), stand by, stick (to or with), abide by, hold to, live up to
    related: cleave (to), advocate, back, champion, confirm, defend, endorse, espouse, support, uphold, accept, adopt, cherish, cultivate, embrace, follow, foster, heed, backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, enforce, reinforce
    opposite: defect (from)
    near: abandon, abnegate, desert, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender, abjure, recall, recant, reconsider, renege, renounce, retract, revoke, take back, unsay, withdraw, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute, contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, repudiate, back down, back off, backtrack

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pace

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pace:

clip, gait, rate, tempo, celerity, fastness, fleetness, haste, hurry, quickness, rapidity, rapidness, speed, speediness, swiftness, velocity, drive, hustle, acceleration, hastiness, precipitation, precipitousness, rush, alacrity, dispatch, expedition, expeditiousness, promptitude, promptness, warp speed, file, march, parade, stride, advance, come, come along, do, fare, forge

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pace

Words with the opposite meaning of Pace:

slowness, sluggishness, languidness, languor, leisureliness, lethargy, torpidity, torpor, reluctance, deliberateness, deliberation, dilatoriness, lateness, pokiness, procrastination, remain, stand, stay, stop

Related Words for Pace

goose-step, perambulate, step, traipse, tread, hike, tramp, lumber, plod, stamp, stomp, trudge, accelerate, fast-forward, approach, near, journey, pass, repair, run, travel, wend, actuate, impel, propel, push, take out

Near Antonyms of Pace

amble, meander, ramble, stroll, wander, arrest, balk, block, check, detain, halt, hinder, hold back, impede, nip, obstruct, slow (down or up), stem, repress, retard, stunt, suppress, delay, interrupt, stall, cramp, hamper, inhibit, cease, let up

Word Forms of Pace

Inflections: paced, pacing

Origin & Etymology of Pace

Middle English pas, from Anglo-French, stride, step, from Latin passus, from pandere to spread fathom

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Pace

pace car, pace lap, pace off, pace of life, pace oneself, change of pace, keep pace

Frequently Asked Questions about Pace

What does "Pace" mean?

"Pace" means rate of movement; especially, an established rate of locomotion. As an a noun, a verb and a preposition, it is defined as: rate of movement; especially, an established rate of locomotion. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pace"?

Other words for "Pace" include clip, gait, rate, tempo, celerity, fastness, fleetness and haste. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pace" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pace"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pace". Common alternatives include clip, gait, rate, tempo, celerity, fastness, fleetness, haste, hurry and quickness.

What is the opposite of "Pace"?

Antonyms of "Pace" include slowness, sluggishness, languidness, languor, leisureliness, lethargy, torpidity and torpor. Near antonyms include amble, meander, ramble and stroll.

How do you use "Pace" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pace" in a sentence: "six jugglers paced neatly alongside one another in the parade"; "the couple paced through the motions of a marriage, but it was never more than a financial and social arrangement".

Is "Pace" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pace" can be used as a noun, a verb and a preposition, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Pace"?

"Pace" is pronounced /ˈpās/ as a noun and /ˈpā-(ˌ)sē/ as a preposition.

What is the origin of the word "Pace"?

"Pace" comes from Middle English pas, from Anglo-French, stride, step, from Latin passus, from pandere to spread fathom. First known use: 14th century.