race
race — noun
1. an event in which people, animals, or vehicles compete to see who can move from
an event in which people, animals, or vehicles compete to see who can move from one point to another the fastest, or who finishes first.
Paloma won the 100-metre race at the school sports day.
race + distance adjective (100-metre race)
The two cyclists were neck and neck for most of the race.
collocation: neck and neck (very close)
The children held a race across the playground to the swings.
Yuki finished the race in third place but broke her personal best time.
Minh trained for six months before the race and finished in second place.
常見錯誤
2. a situation in which a person or group tries hard to achieve something before ot
a situation in which a person or group tries hard to achieve something before others do, such as winning a leadership position, securing a deal, or reaching a goal first.
Three candidates are in the race to become the next party leader.
collocation: in the race to [do something]
The technology race between the two companies pushed prices down quickly.
The hospital team was in a race against time to find a matching organ donor.
Many countries joined the space race to send a person to the moon.
The research team is in a race to develop a vaccine before the next flu season.
- competition
more general; a race feels more urgent and time-bound
- contest
suggests a formal event with rules; a race may be informal
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'against' (a race against time/the clock) or 'to' (a race to do something). Often modified by a domain noun: arms race, space race, technology race.
3. a planned afternoon or day at a racecourse where several horse races or greyhoun
a planned afternoon or day at a racecourse where several horse races or greyhound races are held one after another, often with betting.
The Watanabe family spent Saturday afternoon at the races.
usually plural: the races
A large crowd gathered at the racecourse for the final race of the day.
Erik placed a small bet on a horse in the third race.
The local races attract visitors from all over the county every summer.
- meeting
formal term for a scheduled set of horse races
- race meeting
more explicit than just 'meeting'
用法筆記
In British English, 'going to the races' means attending a horse-racing meeting. Less common in American English, where 'the track' is more typical.
4. one of the broad groups that humans are divided into based on shared physical fe
one of the broad groups that humans are divided into based on shared physical features such as skin colour, hair type, or facial shape, which people often treat as significant in society.
The school welcomes students from every race and background.
collocation: every race and background
Laws against discrimination protect people regardless of their race or religion.
collocation: regardless of race
The census form asked each person to identify their race.
Ada wrote an essay about how race has been used to divide communities throughout history.
People of the same race can have very different cultural traditions and languages.
- ethnicity
overlaps but focuses more on shared culture, language, and ancestry than physical traits
- ethnic group
more precise and less loaded term in modern usage
用法筆記
Often discussed alongside 'ethnicity' (which refers more to shared culture, language, and ancestry) and 'equality'. Increasingly viewed by scholars as a social construct rather than a biological fact.
常見錯誤
5. the notion that physical traits such as skin colour or hair type can separate hu
the notion that physical traits such as skin colour or hair type can separate humans into distinct categories — a concept studied in sociology and often tied to issues of prejudice and inequality.
The sociology course examines how race has been constructed differently across societies.
collocation: race as a social construction
The professor argued that race is not a biological reality but a social category.
The documentary explores the role of race in shaping housing policy in the twentieth century.
Mei and her classmates studied how race affected access to housing loans in the 1950s.
用法筆記
This abstract sense — 'race' as a concept or system — is used mainly in academic, political, and activist contexts. It is uncountable: 'Race is a factor in hiring decisions', not 'a race is a factor'.
6. a community whose members have in common a particular language, set of customs,
a community whose members have in common a particular language, set of customs, historical background, or line of descent.
The island is home to several distinct races that have lived there for centuries.
Aylin's research focuses on the traditions of the Kurdish race across the region.
collocation: the [name] race
The festival celebrates the music and dance of the original races of the area.
Many traditional stories are passed down orally within each race from one generation to the next.
- ethnic group
more common in modern usage; less ambiguous
- people
as in 'the Kurdish people'; broader and less specific
用法筆記
This older sense overlaps with 'ethnic group' or 'people'. In modern English, 'ethnicity' or 'ethnic group' is more common; 'race' in this sense can sound dated or poetic.
race — verb
1. to take part in a competition of speed against someone or something, or to cause
to take part in a competition of speed against someone or something, or to cause an animal or vehicle to compete in such an event.
Yael raced against her best friend in the fifty-metre freestyle.
intransitive: race against + person
James races his greyhound every weekend at the local track.
transitive: race + animal
The two brothers love to race each other down the hill on their bikes.
Darius has been racing professionally since he was sixteen years old.
The children raced across the field to see who could reach the fence first.
文法句型
race + against/with + person
race + noun (vehicle/animal)
race + noun + to/from + place
用法筆記
When transitive, the object can be a person (race someone to a place), an animal (race a horse), or a vehicle (race a car). In professional contexts 'race' alone implies a formal event.
常見錯誤
2. to move or travel at great speed, often because of urgency or strong emotion.
to move or travel at great speed, often because of urgency or strong emotion.
The ambulance raced through the city streets with its siren on.
intransitive + through + place
Ada raced downstairs when she heard the baby crying.
His heart raced with excitement as he opened the letter.
The cat raced along the top of the fence and disappeared into the garden.
Thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to decide what to do next.
文法句型
race + adverb/preposition (to/through/along/down)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this is purely about speed — no competition is implied. Commonly used with prepositions of direction (through, along, down, up) and in metaphorical contexts (heart races, mind races).