apace
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of apace
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English a pas(e) “at a (good) pace”; see a- 1, pace 1
Explanation
When something happens apace, it happens quickly. You could say that despite the rain, your house painting project is still continuing apace. You're most likely to see the adverb apace describing some kind of work, and it's usually paired up with the verb continue. A harried theater director might insist that progress on the new play continues apace, or you might notice that your next door neighbor's chicken coop construction is continuing apace, progressing rapidly. The literal meaning of the 14th century phrase a pace was "at a pace," or "at a good pace."
Vocabulary lists containing apace
A Midsummer Night's Dream
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The Tragedy of Macbeth
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Julius Caesar
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Had the Defense Department’s harm-reduction mission continued apace, current and former officials say, the policies almost certainly would’ve reduced the number of noncombatants harmed over the past year.
From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026
As AI technology develops apace, the company has swathes of land reserved on its Jakarta site for future builds.
From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026
Paramount Skydance’s new management team said Wednesday that while their turnaround plan is proceeding apace, a potential acquisition of Warner Bros.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026
For all the geopolitical instability, many U.S. companies’ valuations are at all-time highs, monetary policy is easing again and a boom in investment related to artificial intelligence continues apace.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
It was just Augustus and me now, watching Isaac and Monica, who proceeded apace as if they were not leaning against a place of worship.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
