ENGLISH
REFERENCE

paced

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpeɪst// UK //pˈeɪst// paced

v. walked back and forth in a small area, usually because you were nervous, worried, or waiting for something. It shows that you are thinking hard or feeling impatient.

v. walked with slow, regular steps, typically in a confined space, as a manifestation of anxiety, impatience, or deep thought. The past tense of 'pace'.


SIMPLE

He paced the room while waiting for the phone to ring.

CONTEXTUAL

She paced the hospital waiting room for hours, unable to sit still until the doctor arrived with news.

COMPLEX

The detective paced the length of the study, his rhythmic footsteps echoing against the hardwood as he mentally reconstructed the sequence of events from the previous night.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive when referring to the area walked ('paced the floor') or intransitive when describing the action alone.

© 2026 English Reference