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to race

to race

260 1.0
To take part in a contest to be fastest or make someone take part
  • verb
  • /reɪs/
: competir
  • And today we're going to race our cars on the track.
  • race cars
  • people learn to race
  • race machines

No, don't think you race yachts, you've raced boats.

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Examples

Synonyms

to run
vsto race
∞ 1.0

To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind

is about trying to win a speed contest rather than merely moving quickly
to compete
vsto race
940 2.6

Try to win against others who want the same thing

is limited to contests of speed rather than any kind of contest

Antonyms

757 1.0

To stop activity to relax or sleep and get energy back

Idioms

17 7.8

To bring up race or accuse someone of racism to get support

11 4.5

A situation where people must finish something quickly before it is too late

1 8.4

To have no personal interest in who wins

Phrasal Verbs

To ride a horse in a race to try to win

To take part in a contest in boats to see who is fastest

Compounds

120 1.5

All people who live on Earth as one group

68 3.7

An election where people compete to win a seat among national lawmakers

52 2.7

A very fast car built to compete in events on a track

32 4.2

A competition between countries to make more powerful weapons and military technology

30 1.6

An event where people ride or drive horses to see which is fastest

20 5.3

A group of people with light skin, often from Europe

18 4.0

An election to choose the leader of a state or territory

18 2.8

A person who drives cars in races at high speed

rat race
  • Informal
15 4.0

A busy, competitive working life that leaves little time to relax

Black race
  • Archaic
12 8.6

A group of people with dark skin, often with African heritage, a term now seen as old-fashioned

9 9.9

A belief that one race is better and should rule others

race riot
  • NSFW
9 7.0

A violent public fight between different races or ethnic groups that damages places and people

8 1.7

A competition where people ride bicycles to see who is fastest

7 2.2

A competition where cars race to cross the finish line first

5 1.9

A race between teams where each runner runs part of the distance and passes a baton

5 2.3

A race where teams row or drive boats to see who is fastest

5 2.5

A children's race where children hop forward inside a sack to reach the finish line

4 1.8

An event where people run to see who is fastest

stake race
  • Jargon
3 8.2

An event where horse owners add money to the prize

3 9.9

A person others insult for supporting people of another race

3 6.3

A problem caused by conflict between people of different races in a community

3 8.8

A race where horses pull a small two-wheeled cart in ancient times

race mixing
  • Offensive
3 7.1

People of different races who have children together

2 1.4

A competition where people ride bikes to finish first

2 3.5

A race where people sail yachts around a set course

1 2.7

A competition where cars drive fast to reach the finish first

1 2.4

A competition where people ski on snow to be first

1 2.7

A competition where people ski down a slope to be fastest

1 3.5

A race where people carry potatoes one at a time on a spoon

Caucasian race
  • Archaic
1 8.0

An old label for people with light skin who come from Europe and nearby regions

1 3.9

A contest where crews compete in sailing boats around a set course

A race where people run and go over or through things that block the way like walls

A contest where one person or team is almost certain to win

A horse race only for a special breed of horses bred for running

race realist
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who believes people of different races have natural, important differences

A competition where fast cars race on a closed track

claiming race
  • Jargon
1 9.4

A race for horses where owners set a price so other people can buy any horse after it

A racetrack in Baltimore that hosts the Preakness Stakes

1 3.2

A running race where runners jump over low barriers

race realism
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A belief that human races have natural, fixed differences that cause different intelligence or behavior

1 3.6

A day when many horse races are held at one place

race mixer
  • Archaic
1 8.5

An event where people from different races meet to talk and make friends

harness race
  • Jargon
1 6.3

A horse race where a driver rides a small two-wheeled cart pulled by horses that trot or pace

race murder
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Planned killing of a racial or cultural group to destroy them

1 8.4

A female model who appears at car races to pose and promote teams

1 9.9

An old word now seen as offensive for people with light skin from Europe, North Africa, or Southwest Asia

1 9.9

An old, wrong idea that grouped East and Southeast Asian people and is now seen as insulting

1 7.2

A race in which runners pass a lit torch to one another

1 8.9

A very fast lizard that lives in the eastern and central United States

9.9

Ideas linking being gay, race, and politics that want equal money and power

A long dog sled race across Alaska that happens every year and covers about 1,000 miles

scratch race
  • Specialized
5.5

A race where all competitors start together with no handicaps

selling race
  • Jargon
9.7

A horse race where the winning horse is put up for auction immediately after the race

How Fast

sprint
44 2.1
to race
260 1.0
to run
∞ 1.0
to jog
98 1.0
to walk
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

race infinitive
raced past
raced past participle
racing present participle
races third person singular

Etymology

Race as a verb comes from the same old word ras meaning 'rush' or 'running', so to race someone is to 'rush' to beat them.