Cool MateDrive fast vs Race vs Speed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Drive fast
Top 2,000 (common)
Race
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Speed
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Drive fast | Race | Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //draɪv fæst//🇺🇸 //draɪv fæst// | 🇬🇧 /["/reɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/spiːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/spiːd/"]/ |
| Meaning | To move quickly in a vehicle. | A competition to see who is the fastest. | How fast something moves. |
| Example | They like to drive fast on the open road. | The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. | The speed of the car was incredible as it raced down the highway. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | |
| Collocations | drive fast, drive safely, drive recklessly, drive too fast, drive in traffic | big, close, tight, have, hold, organize, be held, be run, take place, meet, meeting, winner, in a/the race, out of a/the race, race against, close, tight, two-horse, be in, be involved in, join, in a/the race, race between, race for, human, alien, mixed, relations, equality, discrimination, among races, between races, from a race, on the basis of race, on (the) grounds of race, human, alien, mixed, relations, equality, discrimination, among races, between races, from a race, on the basis of race, on (the) grounds of race | amazing, astonishing, breakneck, burst, rate, attain, reach, build up, increase, decrease, control, reduction, restriction, at speed, in speed, with speed, at full speed, full speed, full speed ahead, amazing, astonishing, breakneck, burst, rate, attain, reach, build up, increase, decrease, control, reduction, restriction, at speed, in speed, with speed, at full speed, full speed, full speed ahead, amazing, astonishing, breakneck, burst, rate, attain, reach, build up, increase, decrease, control, reduction, restriction, at speed, in speed, with speed, at full speed, full speed, full speed ahead |
| Antonyms | - | walk, crawl | slowness, laziness |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'drive slowly' when describing speed., Using 'fastly' instead of 'fast'. | Confusing 'race' with 'race against' (use 'race against time' when emphasizing urgency), Using the plural 'races' without context, as it may imply multiple types of competitions, Mixing 'race' with 'racing', which refers specifically to the action rather than the event | Confusing 'speed' with 'pace' when referring to a specific time or distance., Incorrectly using 'speed' as a verb in sentences., Saying 'the speed' when discussing averages — should specify the context (e.g., 'average speed'). |
| Usage notes | Used in casual contexts, often regarding speeding or excitement. Not suitable for formal writing. | Use 'race' when talking about competitions involving speed, such as running, driving, or sport. It is informal when talking about a fun, casual event but can be formal in official contexts like sports competitions. | Use 'speed' in everyday conversations about how quickly something happens. It is appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using it in highly technical discussions unless specifying the type of speed. |
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Frequently asked questions: Drive fast vs Race vs Speed
What's the difference between Drive fast, Race, and Speed?
Drive fast: To move quickly in a vehicle. Race: A competition to see who is the fastest. Speed: How fast something moves.
Can you show an example of each?
Drive fast: They like to drive fast on the open road. Race: The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. Speed: The speed of the car was incredible as it raced down the highway.
Can I use Drive fast, Race, and Speed interchangeably?
Not always. Drive fast, Race, and Speed are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.