# paced

/ˈpeɪst/ (US) · /pˈeɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paced
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. walked back and forth

verb · CEFR B2

walked back and forth in a small area, often because you are nervous or waiting.

For teachers: walked with slow, regular steps, typically in a confined space due to anxiety, impatience, or deep thought.

- He paced the hospital waiting room for hours until the doctor finally appeared.
- The detective paced the length of the office, his rhythmic footsteps echoing as he mentally reconstructed the events of the previous night.

### 2. controlled the speed

verb · CEFR B2

controlled the speed of an activity so you do not get too tired.

For teachers: regulated the rate of progress or speed of an activity, especially to conserve energy over a long duration.

- She paced herself during the first half of the marathon to save energy for the finish.
- The lead runner carefully paced the first few laps, ensuring he remained within striking distance of the record without exhausting his reserves too early.

### 3. having a certain speed

adjective · CEFR B2

moving or happening at a specific speed, usually used with another word like 'fast' or 'slow'.

For teachers: occurring or moving at a specified rate; almost exclusively used in hyphenated compound constructions.

- The fast-paced movie kept the audience excited from the very first scene.
- The modern workplace is often a fast-paced environment that requires employees to adapt quickly to shifting priorities and technological changes.

Usage: Usually appears in compounds like 'fast-paced' or 'slow-paced'.

## Examples

- He paced the room while waiting for the phone to ring.
- She paced the hospital waiting room for hours, unable to sit still until the doctor arrived with news.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.