Pace vs. Speed — What's the Difference?

A steady and consistent rate of movement.

The rate at which something moves or operates.

A step in walking or running.

Quickness or rapidity of motion.

A designated speed for a particular activity.

In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as v) of an object is the magnitude of the rate of change of its position with time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance travelled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as the duration of the time interval approaches zero.

A single step taken when walking or running

The rate at which someone or something moves or operates or is able to move or operate

Speed in walking, running, or moving

Each of the possible gear ratios of a bicycle.

Walk at a steady speed, especially without a particular destination and as an expression of anxiety or annoyance

The light-gathering power or f-number of a camera lens.

Move or develop (something) at a particular rate or speed

An amphetamine drug, especially methamphetamine.

With due respect to (someone or their opinion), used to express polite disagreement or contradiction

Success; prosperity

A step made in walking; a stride.

Move quickly

A unit of length equal to 30 inches (0.76 meter).

Make prosperous or successful

The modern version of the Roman pace, measuring five English feet. Also called geometric pace.

Take or be under the influence of an amphetamine drug

Thirty inches at quick marching time or 36 at double time.

Distance traveled divided by the time of travel.

Five Roman feet or 58.1 English inches, measured from the point at which the heel of one foot is raised to the point at which it is set down again after an intervening step by the other foot.

The limit of this quotient as the time of travel becomes vanishingly small; the first derivative of distance with respect to time.

The rate of speed at which a person, animal, or group walks or runs.

The magnitude of a velocity.

The rate of speed at which an activity or movement proceeds.

Swiftness of action

A manner of walking or running

The act of moving rapidly

A gait of a horse in which both feet on one side are lifted and put down together.

The state of being in rapid motion; rapidity

To walk or stride back and forth across

A transmission gear or set of gears in a motor vehicle

To measure (a space) by counting the number of steps needed to cover a distance.

A numerical expression of the sensitivity of a photographic film, plate, or paper to light.

To walk (a number of steps) in so measuring a space.

The capacity of a lens to accumulate light at an appropriate aperture.

To set or regulate the rate of speed for (a race or a competitor in a race).

The length of time required or permitted for a camera shutter to open and admit light.

To lead (one's team or teammates) with a good performance

(Slang) A stimulant drug, especially amphetamine or methamphetamine.

To advance or develop (something) for a particular purpose or at a particular rate

(Slang) One that suits or appeals to a person's inclinations, skills, or character

To train (a horse) in a particular gait, especially the pace.

(Archaic) Prosperity; luck.

To walk with long deliberate steps.

To go, move, or proceed quickly

To go at the pace. Used of a horse or rider.

To drive at a speed exceeding a legal limit

With the permission of; with deference to. Used to express polite or ironically polite disagreement

To pass quickly

Step.

To move, work, or happen at a faster rate; accelerate

A step taken with the foot.

(Slang) To be under the influence of a stimulant drug.

The distance covered in a step (or sometimes two), either vaguely or according to various specific set measurements.

To prove successful; prosper.

Way of stepping.

To get along in a specified manner; fare.

A manner of walking, running or dancing; the rate or style of how someone moves with their feet.

To cause to move or proceed quickly; hasten

Any of various gaits of a horse, specifically a 2-beat, lateral gait.

To increase the speed or rate of; accelerate. Often used with up

Speed or velocity in general.

To further, promote, or expedite (a legal action, for example).

(cricket) A measure of the hardness of a pitch and of the tendency of a cricket ball to maintain its speed after bouncing.

(Archaic) To help to succeed or prosper; aid.

(collective) A group of donkeys.

The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion.

(obsolete) Passage, route.

The rate of motion or action, specifically the magnitude of the velocity; the rate distance is traversed in a given time.

(obsolete) One's journey or route.

(photography) The sensitivity to light of film, plates or sensor.

(obsolete) A passage through difficult terrain; a mountain pass or route vulnerable to ambush etc.

(photography) The duration of exposure, the time during which a camera shutter is open (shutter speed).

(obsolete) An aisle in a church.

(photography) The largest size of the lens opening at which a lens can be used.

Easter.

(photography) The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a photographic objective.

(cricket) Describing a bowler who bowls fast balls.

Amphetamine or any amphetamine-based drug (especially methamphetamine) used as a stimulant, especially illegally.

To walk back and forth in a small distance.

(archaic) Luck, success, prosperity.

To set the speed in a race. en

(slang) Personal preference.

To measure by walking.

A third-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the rate of change of gamma with respect to changes in the underlying asset price.

(formal) With all due respect to.

(film) Called by the soundman when the recording equipment has reached running speed and is ready to go.

A single movement from one foot to the other in walking; a step.

To succeed; to prosper, be lucky.

The length of a step in walking or marching, reckoned from the heel of one foot to the heel of the other; - used as a unit in measuring distances; as, he advanced fifty paces.

To help someone, to give them fortune; to aid or favour.

Manner of stepping or moving; gait; walk; as, the walk, trot, canter, gallop, and amble are paces of the horse; a swaggering pace; a quick pace.

(intransitive) To go fast.

A slow gait; a footpace.

(intransitive) To exceed the speed limit.

Specifically, a kind of fast amble; a rack.

(transitive) To increase the rate at which something occurs.

Any single movement, step, or procedure.

To be under the influence of stimulant drugs, especially amphetamines.

A broad step or platform; any part of a floor slightly raised above the rest, as around an altar, or at the upper end of a hall.

(obsolete) To be expedient.

A device in a loom, to maintain tension on the warp in pacing the web.

(archaic) To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin.

The rate of progress of any process or activity; as, the students ran at a rapid pace; the plants grew at a remarkable pace.

(archaic) To wish success or good fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.

To go; to walk; specifically, to move with regular or measured steps.

To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.

To proceed; to pass on.

To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.

To move quickly by lifting the legs on the same side together, as a horse; to amble with rapidity; to rack.

Prosperity in an undertaking; favorable issue; success.

To pass away; to die.

The act or state of moving swiftly; swiftness; velocity; rapidly; rate of motion; dispatch; as, the speed a horse or a vessel.

To walk over with measured tread; to move slowly over or upon; as, the guard paces his round.

One who, or that which, causes or promotes speed or success.

To measure by steps or paces; as, to pace a piece of ground. Often used with out; as, to pace out the distance.

To go; to fare.

To develop, guide, or control the pace or paces of; to teach the pace; to break in.

To experience in going; to have any condition, good or ill; to fare.

The rate of moving (especially walking or running)

To fare well; to have success; to prosper.

The distance covered by a step;

To make haste; to move with celerity.

The relative speed of progress or change;

To be expedient.

A step in walking or running

To cause to be successful, or to prosper; hence, to aid; to favor.

The rate of some repeating event

To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.

A unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.

Walk with slow or fast paces;

To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin; to undo.

Go at a pace;

To wish success or god fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.

Measure (distances) by pacing;

Distance travelled per unit time

Regulate or set the pace of;

A rate (usually rapid) at which something happens;

A comparative measure of progress.

Changing location rapidly

A manner of trodding specific to horses.

The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a (camera) lens system

A central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression

Step on it;

Move faster;

Travel at an excessive or illegal velocity;

Move very fast;

Cause to move faster;

The rate of achieving a particular goal.

Swiftness in action or performance.

Velocity measured in terms of distance per time.

Speed often pertains to how quickly an athlete moves, whereas Pace focuses on maintaining a consistent rate.

A car's dashboard typically shows Speed, usually in miles or kilometers per hour.

Pace generally refers to a consistent rate of movement, while Speed measures how fast something moves.

Yes, we often refer to the "pace of life" to describe the rate at which events or changes occur in one's life.

Speed is commonly represented as a distance traveled per unit of time, like miles per hour or meters per second.

Yes, a pace can also mean a step taken when walking or running.

While often related to movement, Speed can also describe the rate of any action, like the speed of decision-making.

It depends on the sport; long-distance events benefit from a steady pace, while sprints prioritize maximum speed.

The pace can control tension and engagement; a fast pace might excite, while a slow pace can build anticipation.

Absolutely, we might discuss the "speed of technological change" to describe rapid advancements.

Yes, both can be controlled, like adjusting one's walking pace or a car's driving speed.

Pace can refer to steady progress over time, while Speed might denote how quickly a task is completed.

Excessive speed, especially in vehicles, can increase the risk of accidents and is often regulated for safety.

Modern technology often emphasizes speed, potentially making us less patient and more expectant of instant results.

No, different species have varied paces and speeds, like the slow pace of turtles compared to the speed of cheetahs.