Word.ws English Dictionary

sets the pace

sets the pace is the third-person singular simple present indicative of set the pace.

Meaning of set the pace

Verb

set the pace (third-person singular simple present sets the pace, present participle setting the pace, simple past and past participle set the pace)

  1. To establish the speed for a group to move at, for example in a race.
  2. (idiomatic) To establish a common goal by example.
    • In May 2003, South Africa set the pace by banning thin plastic bags and imposing a tax on thick ones.

Questions about sets the pace

What is sets the pace the third-person singular simple present indicative of?
Sets the pace is the third-person singular simple present indicative of set the pace.

Words near sets the pace in the dictionary

  1. sets the bar
  2. sets the cat among the pigeons
  3. sets the heather alight
  4. sets the heather on fire
  5. sets the land
  6. sets the pace
  7. sets the record straight
  8. sets the stage
  9. sets the table
  10. sets the Thames on fire
  11. sets the tone

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: sets the pace (page history and authors); set the pace (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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