Cool MateRace vs Run
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Race
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Run
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
| Race | Run | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/reɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rʌn/","/rʌnz/","/ræn/","/ˈrʌnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rʌn/","/rʌnz/","/ræn/","/ˈrʌnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A competition to see who is the fastest. | to move quickly on your feet |
| Example | The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. | I like to run every morning to stay healthy. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | 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 | fast, quickly, blindly, begin to, start to, get up and, down, into, out of, efficiently, properly, well, try to, manage to, help (to), regularly, late, between, from, to, efficiently, smoothly, continuously, on, be up and running, smoothly, concurrently, consecutively, successfully, unsuccessfully, for |
| Antonyms | walk, crawl | walk, sit, stay |
| Common mistakes | 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 | 'Run' is sometimes confused with 'jog' (running at a slow pace)., Learners may incorrectly use 'run' for things like 'I run a car' instead of 'I drive a car.', 'Run' can be incorrectly used in past forms (e.g., 'runned' instead of 'ran'). |
| Usage notes | 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. | Commonly used in many contexts, from physical activity to operating machines and systems. In formal contexts, consider specifying the type of run (e.g., 'run a meeting'). 'Run' can be informal in conversations about hobbies or fitness. |
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Frequently asked questions: Race vs Run
What's the difference between Race and Run?
Race: A competition to see who is the fastest. Run: to move quickly on your feet
Which is more advanced: Race and Run?
Race is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Race and Run the same CEFR level?
Race: A2, Run: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Race and Run?
Race: noun, Run: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Race: The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. Run: I like to run every morning to stay healthy.
Can I use Race and Run interchangeably?
Not always. Race and Run 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.