Cool MateDrive fast vs Race
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Drive fast
Top 2,000 (common)
Race
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Race
| Drive fast | Race | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //draɪv fæst//🇺🇸 //draɪv fæst// | 🇬🇧 /["/reɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪs/"]/ |
| Meaning | To move quickly in a vehicle. | A competition to see who is the fastest. |
| Example | They like to drive fast on the open road. | The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | 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 |
| Antonyms | - | walk, crawl |
| 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 |
| 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Drive fast vs Race
What's the difference between Drive fast and Race?
Drive fast: To move quickly in a vehicle. Race: A competition to see who is the fastest.
Which is more common: Drive fast and Race?
Race is the most common in everyday English.
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.
Can I use Drive fast and Race interchangeably?
Not always. Drive fast and Race 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.