Pace is a noun that refers to the speed at which someone or something moves, acts, or progresses. It can denote the tempo of activities, speech, or processes, and can also describe a measured rate or rate of movement. In context, pace often conveys tempo, rhythm, and the rate of action within a given situation.
"Her pace quickened as she chased the bus."
"The pacing of the lecture kept the audience engaged."
"They adjusted their pace to match the walking tour.”"
"In writing, the author uses short sentences to control pace and tension."
Pace comes from the Old French pace, pace, meaning ‘step, step of the walk’ (from Latin passus, ‘step’). In Middle English it evolved to denote “a step or pace of walking” and soon extended to mean the measure of speed in motion or action. The root behind pace is the verb to pace, from Latin passos ‘step,’ via Old French pas. Over time, the concept broadened beyond physical stepping to include the rate of movement or progress in non-physical contexts, such as the pace of a conversation, a story, or a project. By the 16th century, pace was commonly used in English to describe tempo in both physical and metaphorical terms, and in modern usage it spans settings from measuring running speed to regulating the cadence of speech in dialogue. The word’s flexibility reflects a general human interest in how fast or slowly things happen, and its usage persists in athletic, literary, business, and everyday language. First known use in English dates to at least the 13th century, with earlier Latin roots in passi and passus (plural of passus, ‘a step’).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pace" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pace" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pace"
-ase sounds
-ace sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as /peɪs/. It’s a single-syllable word with the long A vowel. Start with a bilabial /p/ release, then glide into the /eɪ/ diphthong (like the vowel in ‘cake’ but ending with a crisp /s/ fricative). The mouth opens to a mid-high position, with the tongue relatively flat and the lips neutral at the /eɪ/ portion, finishing with a voiceless /s/. Stress is on the only syllable. Try to keep the duration short and crisp. IPA: /peɪs/.
Common errors include turning /eɪ/ into a shorter /e/ like ‘pet,’ which shortens the diphthong and makes it sound like /pe/; and over-sibilating the final /s/, producing a hissy /s/ or adding an extra alveolar touch. Another frequent mistake is adding an intrusive /ɪ/ before the /s/ (saying /peɪ.ɪs/). Practice keeping the glide steady in /eɪ/ and ending with a clean, crisp /s/. Focus on a clean closure without trailing vowels.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the core /peɪs/ pronunciation stays similar; differences arise in vowel quality and rhoticity around adjacent sounds. US tends to have slightly more pronounced /eɪ/ and a clearer /s/?; UK often keeps a tighter /eɪ/ with less vowel length variation, and AU may have a more centralized vowel quality and a subtly shorter /eɪ/. The /p/ is unreleased in careful speech, and the final /s/ remains voiceless. Overall, pace remains a concise, single-syllable cue in all three, with minimal cross-accent variation beyond vowel color. IPA: /peɪs/ for all three.
The challenge lies in the precise /eɪ/ diphthong and the final /s/ fricative needing clean, separated articulation. Some speakers glottally stop or soften the /p/, which can blur delivery; others might lengthen the /eɪ/ or add an extra vowel before /s/. You’ll hear it as a short, crisp syllable; aiming for a strong p- release, crisp glide into /eɪ/, and a high-frequency /s/ is essential. Maintain even airflow to avoid a reduced or elongated vowel. The word sits at the border of vowel quality and voiceless frication, requiring controlled muscle coordination.
This word hinges on a single-syllable balance of a clear onset /p/, a precise /eɪ/ glide, and a crisp /s/. Unique to Pace is maintaining a steady, neutral mouth position from onset through the glide, avoiding over-articulation of the /p/ or a prolonged /eɪ/ that bleeds into the /s/. Think of it as a compact cue: a clean stop, a bright vowel, and a dry finish. IPA: /peɪs/.
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