Race vs Run run run

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Race

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

Run run run

Top 1,000 (very common)
 RaceRun run run
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/reɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪs/"]/🇬🇧 //rʌn//🇺🇸 //rʌn//
MeaningA competition to see who is the fastest.To move quickly on your feet.
ExampleThe race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed.I love to run in the mornings.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsbig, 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 racerun a marathon, run fast, run away, run smoothly, run a race
Antonymswalk, crawl-
Common mistakesConfusing '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 eventConfusing with 'jog' which implies a slower pace., Using 'run' for non-physical activities, like 'run a program'., Omitting the subject in casual speech, e.g., 'run in the park' instead of 'I run in the park.'
Usage notesUse '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 'run' when referring to the action of moving fast. It is neutral and suitable in most contexts but may sound overly casual in formal situations.

See it in real clips

Race
Run run run

Frequently asked questions: Race vs Run run run

What's the difference between Race and Run run run?

Race: A competition to see who is the fastest. Run run run: To move quickly on your feet.

Can you show an example of each?

Race: The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. Run run run: I love to run in the mornings.

Can I use Race and Run run run interchangeably?

Not always. Race and Run run 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.

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