noun

race

rays

noun

A contest to see who is fastest at reaching a goal.

"She won the 100-metre race by a fraction of a second."

"The two companies are locked in a race to release the first product."

A group of people classed together based on shared ancestry or physical characteristics.

"The census asks people to self-identify their race."

verb

To compete to see who can get somewhere or finish something first.

"The kids raced each other to the end of the street."

"We raced to catch the last train home."

How to Use Race

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a speed contest, or a way of grouping people by shared ancestry.

Common mistake

Don't confuse this "race" (contest/ancestry) with the verb "raze" (to demolish) — they sound identical but mean opposite things.

Easily confused with

raze →

Common pairings

race against time human race race to the finish

Word Forms

raced past tense, raced past tense, raced past tense, raced past tense, races plural, races plural, races plural, race plural, raced plural, Races plural, races singular, races singular, races singular, race singular, raced singular, racest singular, racedst singular, raceth singular, races singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She won the 100-metre _____ by a fraction of a second.

Etymology

The competition sense traces to Old English and Old Norse words for a swift run or rush; the "group of people" sense arrived separately, later, from continental European languages.

Rhymes for race

ace face pace mace lace Jace peace space trace grace place brace

See all rhymes for race →