Rate vs. Pace — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 1, 2024
Rate refers to the quantitative measurement of one quantity relative to another, while pace measures the speed of progress, especially in steps or distance over time.
Difference Between Rate and Pace
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Rate is a measurement that expresses the quantity of one thing in comparison to a unit of another thing, such as speed (miles per hour) or efficiency (tasks per hour). Pace, on the other hand, specifically refers to the speed at which someone or something moves, or with which an activity progresses, often used in the context of running or walking, measured in time per distance unit, like minutes per mile.
Rates are used in various contexts, from finance (interest rates) to work (rate of production), indicating the relationship between different quantities. Whereas pace is more commonly associated with physical movement and is a crucial measure in athletics, tracking how fast a distance is covered.
While rate can apply to any scenario where there is a ratio of two different units (e.g., population growth rate per year), pace is specifically concerned with time and distance. This makes pace a subset of rates, focusing on speed and movement efficiency.
In many sports, the concept of pace is crucial for strategy, as athletes must manage their speed over a distance to optimize performance. Rate, however, can encompass broader applications, including non-physical processes, such as the rate of a chemical reaction or the rate of data transfer in technology.
Rate and pace also differ in their implications and applications. A rate can indicate productivity or efficiency in a broad range of activities, from work output to energy consumption. Pace, however, is more often associated with endurance, stamina, and the ability to maintain a certain speed over time, especially relevant in long-distance sports.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A measurement of one quantity per unit of another.
Speed of progress over time, typically steps or distance.
Units
Varied (e.g., mph, tasks/hour)
Time per distance (e.g., minutes per mile)
Contexts of Use
Broad (finance, work, science)
Mostly physical movement or speed
Focus
Quantity ratio
Speed and endurance
Application Example
Calculating efficiency or productivity
Managing speed in physical activities
Compare with Definitions
Rate
Measurement of one quantity per unit of another.
The interest rate of 5% per annum indicates how much interest you earn on savings over a year.
Pace
Speed of movement or progress, especially in walking or running.
She maintained a steady pace of 8 minutes per mile throughout the marathon.
Rate
Used to express speed, efficiency, or frequency.
The rate at which the water flows through this pipe is 10 gallons per minute.
Pace
Reflects the consistency or variability of speed over distance.
His pace varied significantly during the race, starting fast, then slowing, and speeding up again at the end.
Rate
Refers to the level or degree of something.
The rate of satisfaction among our customers is very high.
Pace
Can be adjusted according to strategy or endurance.
The team decided to start at a slower pace to conserve energy for a strong finish.
Rate
Can denote a price or cost per unit.
The rate for parking downtown is $5 per hour.
Pace
Can indicate the tempo or speed of an activity beyond physical movement.
The project's pace has picked up now that we're approaching the deadline.
Rate
Indicates a statistical occurrence over time.
The crime rate in the city has decreased by 10% this year.
Pace
Used to describe the speed of work or progress in a task.
We need to increase our pace if we want to meet our quarterly goals.
Rate
A quantity measured with respect to another measured quantity
A rate of speed of 60 miles an hour.
Pace
A single step taken when walking or running
Kirov stepped back a pace
Rate
A measure of a part with respect to a whole; a proportion
The mortality rate.
A tax rate.
Pace
Speed in walking, running, or moving
He's an aggressive player with plenty of pace
The ring road allows traffic to flow at a remarkably fast pace
Rate
The cost per unit of a commodity or service
Postal rates.
Pace
Walk at a steady speed, especially without a particular destination and as an expression of anxiety or annoyance
We paced up and down in exasperation
She had been pacing the room
Rate
A charge or payment calculated in relation to a particular sum or quantity
Interest rates.
Pace
Move or develop (something) at a particular rate or speed
Our fast-paced daily lives
The action is paced to the beat of a perky march
Rate
Level of quality.
Pace
With due respect to (someone or their opinion), used to express polite disagreement or contradiction
Narrative history, pace some theorists, is by no means dead
Rate
Often rates Chiefly British A locally assessed property tax.
Pace
A step made in walking; a stride.
Rate
To place in a particular class, rank, or grade
Rated the film PG13.
Rated the bonds at junk level.
Pace
A unit of length equal to 30 inches (0.76 meter).
Rate
To specify the performance limits of, especially according to a standard scale
This fuse is rated at 50 amperes. The fishing line is rated for 30 pounds.
Pace
The modern version of the Roman pace, measuring five English feet. Also called geometric pace.
Rate
To regard or consider as having a certain value
Rated the movie excellent.
Rated him a fine cook.
Pace
Thirty inches at quick marching time or 36 at double time.
Rate
Chiefly British To value for purposes of taxation.
Pace
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.
Rate
To set a rate for (goods to be shipped).
Pace
The rate of speed at which a person, animal, or group walks or runs.
Rate
(Informal) To merit or deserve
People that rate special treatment.
An idea that rates attention.
Pace
The rate of speed at which an activity or movement proceeds.
Rate
To be ranked in a particular class
A wine that rates higher than any other.
Pace
A manner of walking or running
A jaunty pace.
Rate
(Informal) To have status, importance, or influence
Tea-flavored ice cream doesn't rate highly in my book.
Pace
A gait of a horse in which both feet on one side are lifted and put down together.
Rate
To berate.
Pace
To walk or stride back and forth across
Paced the floor nervously.
Rate
To express reproof.
Pace
To measure (a space) by counting the number of steps needed to cover a distance.
Rate
(obsolete) The worth of something; value.
Pace
To walk (a number of steps) in so measuring a space.
Rate
The proportional relationship between one amount, value etc. and another.
At the height of his powers, he was producing pictures at the rate of four a year.
Pace
To set or regulate the rate of speed for (a race or a competitor in a race).
Rate
Speed.
The car was speeding down here at a hell of a rate.
Pace
To lead (one's team or teammates) with a good performance
Paced her team to a victory with 18 points.
Rate
The relative speed of change or progress.
The rate of production at the factory is skyrocketing.
Pace
To advance or develop (something) for a particular purpose or at a particular rate
Paced the lectures so as not to overwhelm the students.
Rate
The price of (an individual) thing; cost.
He asked quite a rate to take me to the airport.
Pace
To train (a horse) in a particular gait, especially the pace.
Rate
A set price or charge for all examples of a given case, commodity, service etc.
Postal rates here are low.
Pace
To walk with long deliberate steps.
Rate
A wage calculated in relation to a unit of time.
We pay an hourly rate of between $10 – $15 per hour depending on qualifications and experience.
Pace
To go at the pace. Used of a horse or rider.
Rate
Any of various taxes, especially those levied by a local authority.
I hardly have enough left every month to pay the rates.
Pace
With the permission of; with deference to. Used to express polite or ironically polite disagreement
I have not, pace my detractors, entered into any secret negotiations.
Rate
(nautical) A class into which ships were assigned based on condition, size etc.; by extension, rank.
This textbook is first-rate.
Pace
Step.
Rate
(obsolete) Established portion or measure; fixed allowance; ration.
Pace
A step taken with the foot.
Rate
(obsolete) Order; arrangement.
Pace
The distance covered in a step (or sometimes two), either vaguely or according to various specific set measurements.
Even at the duel, standing 10 paces apart, he could have satisfied Aaron’s honor.
I have perambulated your field, and estimate its perimeter to be 219 paces.
Rate
(obsolete) Ratification; approval.
Pace
Way of stepping.
Rate
(horology) The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time.
Daily rate; hourly rate; etc.
Pace
A manner of walking, running or dancing; the rate or style of how someone moves with their feet.
Rate
(transitive) To assign or be assigned a particular rank or level.
She is rated fourth in the country.
Pace
Any of various gaits of a horse, specifically a 2-beat, lateral gait.
Rate
(transitive) To evaluate or estimate the value of.
They rate his talents highly.
Pace
Speed or velocity in general.
Rate
(transitive) To consider or regard.
He rated this book brilliant.
Pace
(cricket) A measure of the hardness of a pitch and of the tendency of a cricket ball to maintain its speed after bouncing.
Rate
(transitive) To deserve; to be worth.
The view here hardly rates a mention in the travel guide.
Pace
(collective) A group of donkeys.
Rate
(transitive) To determine the limits of safe functioning for a machine or electrical device.
The transformer is rated at 10 watts.
Pace
(obsolete) Passage, route.
Rate
To evaluate a property's value for the purposes of local taxation.
Pace
(obsolete) One's journey or route.
Rate
To like; to think highly of.
The customers don't rate the new burgers.
Pace
(obsolete) A passage through difficult terrain; a mountain pass or route vulnerable to ambush etc.
Rate
(intransitive) To have position (in a certain class).
She rates among the most excellent chefs in the world.
He rates as the best cyclist in the country.
Pace
(obsolete) An aisle in a church.
Rate
(intransitive) To have value or standing.
This last performance of hers didn't rate very high with the judges.
Pace
Easter.
Rate
(transitive) To ratify.
Pace
(cricket) Describing a bowler who bowls fast balls.
Rate
To ascertain the exact rate of the gain or loss of (a chronometer) as compared with true time.
Pace
To walk back and forth in a small distance.
Rate
(transitive) To berate, scold.
Pace
To set the speed in a race. en
Rate
To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently; to berate.
Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy!
Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming them from it, and rating them for it.
Pace
To measure by walking.
Rate
To set a certain estimate on; to value at a certain price or degree.
To rate a man by the nature of his companions is a rule frequent indeed, but not infallible.
You seem not high enough your joys to rate.
Pace
(formal) With all due respect to.
Rate
To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.
Pace
A single movement from one foot to the other in walking; a step.
Rate
To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount, value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a seaman; to rate a pension.
Pace
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.
Rate
To ratify.
Pace
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.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.
In the military schools of riding a variety of paces are taught.
Rate
To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; as, the ship rates as a ship of the line.
Pace
A slow gait; a footpace.
Rate
To make an estimate.
Pace
Specifically, a kind of fast amble; a rack.
Rate
Established portion or measure; fixed allowance.
The one right feeble through the evil rateOf food which in her duress she had found.
Pace
Any single movement, step, or procedure.
The first pace necessary for his majesty to make is to fall into confidence with Spain.
Rate
That which is established as a measure or criterion; degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of the interest to the principal, per annum.
Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was different from what it is nowadays.
In this did his holiness and godliness appear above the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so . . . merciful.
Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor come up soon enough.
Pace
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.
Rate
Valuation; price fixed with relation to a standard; cost; charge; as, high or low rates of transportation.
They come at dear rates from Japan.
Pace
A device in a loom, to maintain tension on the warp in pacing the web.
Rate
A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a local tax; as, parish rates; town rates.
Pace
The rate of progress of any process or activity; as, the students ran at a rapid pace; the plants grew at a remarkable pace.
Rate
Order; arrangement.
Thus sat they all around in seemly rate.
Pace
To go; to walk; specifically, to move with regular or measured steps.
Rate
Ratification; approval.
Pace
To proceed; to pass on.
Or [ere] that I further in this tale pace.
Rate
The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of time; as, daily rate; hourly rate; etc.
Pace
To move quickly by lifting the legs on the same side together, as a horse; to amble with rapidity; to rack.
Rate
The order or class to which a war vessel belongs, determined according to its size, armament, etc.; as, first rate, second rate, etc.
Pace
To pass away; to die.
Rate
Amount of a charge or payment relative to some basis;
A 10-minute phone call at that rate would cost $5
Pace
To walk over with measured tread; to move slowly over or upon; as, the guard paces his round.
Rate
A magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit;
They traveled at a rate of 55 miles per hour
The rate of change was faster than expected
Pace
To measure by steps or paces; as, to pace a piece of ground. Often used with out; as, to pace out the distance.
Rate
The relative speed of progress or change;
He lived at a fast pace
He works at a great rate
The pace of events accelerated
Pace
To develop, guide, or control the pace or paces of; to teach the pace; to break in.
If you can, pace your wisdomIn that good path that I would wish it go.
Rate
Assign a rank or rating to;
How would you rank these students?
The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide
Pace
The rate of moving (especially walking or running)
Rate
Be worthy of or have a certain rating;
This bond rates highly
Pace
The distance covered by a step;
He stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig
Rate
Estimate the value of;
How would you rate his chances to become President?
Gold was rated highly among the Romans
Pace
The relative speed of progress or change;
He lived at a fast pace
He works at a great rate
The pace of events accelerated
Pace
A step in walking or running
Pace
The rate of some repeating event
Pace
A unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
Pace
Walk with slow or fast paces;
He paced up and down the hall
Pace
Go at a pace;
The horse paced
Pace
Measure (distances) by pacing;
Step off ten yards
Pace
Regulate or set the pace of;
Pace your efforts
Common Curiosities
How is rate calculated?
Rate is calculated by dividing one quantity by another, for instance, distance divided by time to get speed.
Can pace be considered a type of rate?
Yes, pace can be considered a specific type of rate where the units are in terms of time and distance.
What does pace mean?
Pace refers to the speed at which someone or something moves, usually measured in time per distance, like minutes per mile.
What is a rate?
A rate is a measurement that shows the amount of one thing in comparison to a unit of another, such as kilometers per hour or dollars per unit.
How do rate and pace differ in their applications?
Rate is used in a wide array of contexts (e.g., financial, scientific), while pace specifically pertains to the speed of movement or progress.
What units are used to measure pace?
Pace is typically measured in time per distance unit, such as minutes per mile or seconds per 100 meters.
Is pace always measured in terms of time?
Yes, pace is fundamentally about the time it takes to cover a specified distance.
How does understanding pace benefit athletes?
It helps athletes to strategize and allocate their energy throughout a race or event for optimal performance.
What is an example of a rate in daily life?
An example is the fuel efficiency of a car, expressed in miles per gallon.
Can the concept of pace apply to non-physical activities?
Yes, it can also refer to the tempo of work or progress in tasks, not just physical movement.
Why is pace important in sports?
Pace is crucial in sports to manage and optimize speed over a distance for better performance and strategy.
How do rates affect the economy?
Rates like interest rates or exchange rates can significantly influence economic growth, inflation, and purchasing power.
What kind of rate is interest rate?
Interest rate is a financial rate indicating the percentage of principal earned or paid over a certain period.
Can pace be used to gauge efficiency?
In the context of workflow or project management, yes, pace can indicate how quickly tasks are being completed.
Are there different ways to express rate and pace?
Yes, while rate can be expressed in various units depending on the context, pace is more specifically expressed in terms of time over distance.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
