pacing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal. Common in descriptive, narrative, instructional, and technical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “pacing” mean?
The act or process of walking back and forth, especially when restless or anxious.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or process of walking back and forth, especially when restless or anxious; the rate or speed at which something happens or is done.
In broader contexts, it can refer to the strategic control of speed or rhythm in various activities (storytelling, exercise, work) to optimize effect, maintain energy, or manage time. In film/medicine, it has specialized technical meanings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'pacing up and down' is more common in UK than US, where 'pacing back and forth' is slightly more typical).
Connotations
Identical connotations of anxiety, impatience, or strategic timing.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in US English in sports/media contexts (e.g., 'game pacing'). Otherwise, equal frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “pacing” in a Sentence
[subject] + is pacing + [adverbial of place] (e.g., the hall)[subject] + is pacing + [object] (e.g., the floor)[subject] + is pacing + [reflexive pronoun] (e.g., herself)The [noun] + pacing + [of-phrase] (e.g., of the story)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pacing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was pacing the corridor, waiting for her interview.
- You need to pace yourself during this marathon.
American English
- He paced back and forth in his office, thinking.
- The director paced the actors through the difficult scene.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The pacing of product releases is critical for market saturation."
Academic
"The study examined the narrative pacing in 19th-century novels."
Everyday
"I could hear him pacing in the room above."
Technical
"The patient required cardiac pacing due to bradycardia."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pacing”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pacing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pacing”
- Using 'pacing' to mean 'placing' (e.g., 'He was pacing the book on the table' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'pacing' (activity/rate) with 'pace' (singular noun for speed).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the core image involves walking, it's frequently used metaphorically for the speed or rhythm of any activity (e.g., a story, a project, a workout).
'Pace' is typically a noun meaning speed or a singular unit of length. 'Pacing' is the gerund/participle form, focusing on the ongoing activity of moving at a pace or the controlled rate itself.
Yes. While 'anxious pacing' is negative, phrases like 'excellent pacing', 'strategic pacing', or 'pacing oneself' are positive, implying skillful management.
It's moderately common, especially in project management and marketing, to discuss the 'pacing' of campaigns, releases, or workloads to meet targets efficiently.
The act or process of walking back and forth, especially when restless or anxious.
Pacing is usually neutral to formal. common in descriptive, narrative, instructional, and technical contexts. in register.
Pacing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Set the pace' (related idiom)”
- “'Off the pace' (lagging behind)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a race PACE: Pacing is about controlling your PACE, whether in walking, working, or telling a story.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME/ACTION IS MOTION ALONG A PATH (e.g., 'pacing the story', 'pacing oneself through the day').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pacing' used in a technical, medical sense?