Race

/ɹeɪs/ · noun

Meaning

A contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective..

Definitions by Sense

1. A contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective.
2. Swift progress; rapid motion; an instance of moving or driving at high speed.
3. (electronics, computing) A race condition; a bug or problem that occurs when two or more components attempt to use the same resource at the same time.
4. A sequence of events; a progressive movement toward a goal.
5. A fast-moving current of water.
6. A water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where it is utilised, such as that which powers a millwheel.
7. A path that something or someone moves along.
8. A guide or channel that a component of a machine moves along:

Example Sentences

Several horses ran in a horse race: the first one to reach the finishing post won.

The race to cure cancer

The race around the park was won by Johnny, who ran faster than the others.

We had a race to see who could finish the book the quickest.

I returned, and saw vnder the Sunne, That the race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of vnderstanding, nor yet fauour to men of skil; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

"Behold that rival here! / "The race by vigour, not by vaunts is won; / "So take the hindmost, Hell."—He said, and run.

After days of intensifying pressure from runners, politicians and the general public to call off the New York City Marathon in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, city officials and the event’s organizers decided Friday afternoon to cancel the race.

The flight of many birds is swifter than the race of any beasts.

Synonyms for race

Antonyms for race

Related Words

Word Forms

• races
• racing
• raced
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• race
• racest
• racedst
• raceth
• -
• rase

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions