# racer

/ˈɹeɪsɝ/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪsɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/racer
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a competitor

noun · CEFR B1

a person who takes part in a race, such as a runner or a driver.

For teachers: a person who competes in a contest of speed.

- The young racer crossed the finish line just seconds before his rival.
- Professional racers often undergo rigorous physical training to withstand the extreme G-forces experienced during high-speed cornering.

### 2. a vehicle or animal

noun · CEFR B1

a car, bicycle, or animal (like a horse) that is specially bred or built for racing.

For teachers: a vehicle or animal designed, bred, or maintained specifically for competitive racing.

- He spent all his savings on a sleek new racer for the upcoming cycling season.
- The team spent months fine-tuning the engine of their primary racer to ensure peak performance during the endurance event.

### 3. a video game

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a video game where you drive cars or other vehicles to win a race.

For teachers: a video game belonging to the racing genre.

- My brother spends every weekend playing a futuristic racer on his console.
- Critics praised the new arcade racer for its realistic physics engine and diverse selection of customizable vehicles.

### 4. a type of snake

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a fast-moving snake found in North and Central America.

For teachers: any of several fast-moving colubrid snakes, especially those of the genus Coluber.

- We saw a black racer disappear quickly into the tall grass.
- The North American racer is known for its impressive speed and agility when navigating through dense underbrush to escape predators.

## Examples

- The young racer crossed the finish line first.
- After years of practice, she finally joined the team as a professional motorcycle racer.
- The engineering team spent months refining the aerodynamics of their new racer, hoping to shave seconds off their previous lap time at the national championship.

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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.