races
C1Neutral to formal, depending on sense.
Definition
Meaning
A competition of speed between participants or vehicles, often for a prize or championship.
The noun can also refer to different groups within humanity characterized by physical traits, ancestry, or ethnicity. As a verb, it means to move or operate at great speed or to compete in a contest of speed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Crucial to distinguish between the two major homographic noun senses: 'competitions of speed' (countable) and 'major divisions of humankind' (countable/uncountable). The verb 'to race' is regular in form but irregular in meaning, often implying urgency or high speed beyond simple 'running'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Very minimal for the 'competition' sense. The term 'race meeting' is more common in UK (horse racing), while US uses 'race day' more broadly. In the 'human groups' sense, usage is identical but societal discourse differs.
Connotations
UK 'the races' strongly connotes horse racing as a social/sporting event. In US, 'the races' can refer to auto racing more prominently.
Frequency
The noun sense for 'human groups' has very high frequency in academic/social contexts globally. The 'competition' sense is high frequency in sports and media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb] races [sb/sth] (in/against/to a place)[sth] races (through/along/past sth)[sb] races to do sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A race against time”
- “A rat race”
- “A two-horse race”
- “The human race”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company is in a race to dominate the emerging market."
Academic
"Discussions on the social construct of race are prevalent in sociology."
Everyday
"We went to the races last weekend; my horse came in third."
Technical
"The engine was racing at 8000 RPM before it seized."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He races motorbikes at the weekend.
- Her mind was racing after the news.
- They raced the patient to hospital.
American English
- He races dirt bikes on weekends.
- Her thoughts were racing after the news.
- They raced the victim to the emergency room.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Dogs can run in races.
- There are many different races in the world.
- The cars raced very fast.
- She won two races at the school sports day.
- We should respect people of all races.
- He raced home to watch the football match.
- The Olympic races attract competitors from every corner of the globe.
- The concept of race is often discussed in historical contexts.
- Investors are racing to buy shares in the new tech company.
- The presidential race is heating up with only a month until the election.
- Modern genetics has complicated traditional notions of biological race.
- Adrenaline was racing through her veins as she prepared for the jump.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember RACES: Run And Compete Excitingly Swiftly.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A RACE (e.g., 'rat race', 'keeping up'), PROGRESS IS A RACE (e.g., 'space race', 'arms race').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'races' (соревнования/гонки) with 'rushes' (спешки). The human 'race' is 'раса', not 'нация' or 'народность'.
- The verb 'to race' is not 'бежать' generically, but implies competition or great speed, closer to 'мчаться' or 'участвовать в гонках'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'race' as an uncountable noun for competitions (e.g., 'I like race') – it's usually countable.
- Confusing 'race' (human) with 'ethnicity' or 'nationality'.
- Using 'races' as a singular verb (3rd person singular is 'races', but noun plural is 'races').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'races' used as a VERB?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a countable noun ('the various human races'), it is plural. As an uncountable abstract concept ('discrimination based on race'), it is singular.
'Race' often refers to groups based on shared physical traits or ancestry. 'Ethnicity' is broader, encompassing cultural factors like language, religion, and traditions. In modern discourse, 'ethnicity' is often preferred for its cultural focus.
Yes, metaphorically. E.g., 'arms race', 'space race', 'political race' describe intense competitions not involving physical running.
No, but in UK English it strongly implies horse racing. Context is key. It could refer to car races, boat races, etc., but 'the dog races' or 'the car races' would be more specific.