keep pace

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pace¹ /peɪs/   n., v., paced, pac•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a rate of movement, esp. in walking, etc.;
   speed:
   [usually singular] to set a rapid pace.
2. a rate of doing something, of activity, etc.;
   tempo:
   [usually singular] The number of students grew at a very rapid pace last year.
3. a single step:
   took a few paces toward her.
4. the distance covered in a step:
   standing only a few paces apart.

v. 

5. to regulate the speed of, as in racing:
   [~ + object] That runner paced the others for the first ten miles of the marathon.
6. to cross with regular, sometimes slow, steps: [~ + object]
   paced the floor nervously.
   [no object]
   paced up and down.
7. to measure by paces:
   [~ + off + object] He paced off a few feet from the wall.

Idioms

8. keep pace, to do or work at the same rate (as): [no object]
   They were working too fast for me to keep pace.
   [~ + with + object]
   Newspapers could hardly keep pace with developments during the war.
9. Idioms put through one's paces, to cause to demonstrate a set of practiced routines:
   The teacher put us through our paces when the parents came to visit the class.
10. Idioms set the pace, to act as an example for others to equal;
    be first or first-rate:
    We want our company to set the pace for sales in the whole region.

pac•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pace¹  (pās), n., v., paced, pac•ing. 
n. 

1. a rate of movement, esp. in stepping, walking, etc.:
   to walk at a brisk pace of five miles an hour.
2. a rate of activity, progress, growth, performance, etc.;
   tempo.
3. Weights and Measures any of various standard linear measures, representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking: roughly 30 to 40 in. (75 cm to 1 m). Cf. geometrical pace, military pace, Roman pace. 
4. a single step:
   She took three paces in the direction of the door.
5. the distance covered in a step:
   Stand six paces inside the gates.
6. a manner of stepping;
   gait.
7. a gait of a horse or other animal in which the feet on the same side are lifted and put down together.
8. any of the gaits of a horse.
9. a raised step or platform.
10. Idioms put through one's paces, to cause someone to demonstrate his or her ability or to show her or his skill:
    The French teacher put her pupils through their paces for the visitors.
11. Idioms set the pace, to act as an example for others to equal or rival;
    be the most progressive or successful:
    an agency that sets the pace in advertising.

v.t. 

12. to set the pace for, as in racing.
13. to traverse or go over with steps:
    He paced the floor nervously.
14. to measure by paces.
15. to train to a certain pace;
    exercise in pacing:
    to pace a horse.
16. (of a horse) to run (a distance) at a pace:
    Hanover II paced a mile.

v.i. 

17. to take slow, regular steps.
18. to walk up and down nervously, as to expend nervous energy.
19. (of a horse) to go at a pace.

• Latin passus step, pace, equivalent. to pad-, variant stem of pandere to spread (the legs, in walking) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action, with dt ss
• Old French
• Middle English pas 1250–1300

Synonyms

• 8. step, amble, rack, trot, jog, canter, gallop, walk, run, singlefoot.
• 17. Pace, plod, trudge refer to a steady and monotonous kind of walking.
  Pace suggests steady, measured steps as of one completely lost in thought or impelled by some distraction:
  to pace up and down.
  Plod implies a slow, heavy, laborious, weary walk:
  The mailman plods his weary way.
  Trudge implies a spiritless but usually steady and doggedly persistent walk:
  The farmer trudged to his village to buy his supplies.

Antonyms

• 17. scurry, scamper, skip.

pa•ce²  (pā′sē, pä′chā; Lat. pä′ke), prep. 

1. with all due respect to;
   with the permission of:
   I do not, pace my rival, hold with the ideas of the reactionists.

• Latin pāce in peace, by favor (ablative singular of pāx peace, favor, pardon, grace)
• 1860–65