change of pace

American  

[cheynj uhv peys] / ˈtʃeɪndʒ əv ˈpeɪs /

noun

1. temporary shift or variation in a normal routine or regular pattern of activity.

   Reading a mystery novel has been a real change of pace for me.

2. Baseball: Older Use. changeup.

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change of pace Idioms  

1. A shift in normal routine, a variation in usual activities or pattern, as in She's smiling in that one photo, just for a change of pace, or After six hours at my desk I need a change of pace, so I'm going for a swim. This term originated in a number of sports where strategy can involve altering the speed of, for example, a pitched or struck ball or a horse's gait. By the mid-1900s it was being transferred to other enterprises.

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Etymology

Origin of change of pace

First recorded in 1650–60; 1865–70 change of pace for def. 2

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

change of pace

“I believe it is the future, and it’s something that is imperative for us to have — a change of pace when it comes to thinking logistics,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

That would be a welcome change of pace.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

British singer-songwriter James Blake offered a change of pace over at the New Music stage during the evening, where his silky voice could be heard reverberating through the tent.

From BBC ● May 23, 2026

Coming after an eventful week—and a tough one for stocks, with the S&P 500 sliding 1.6%—the stillness was a welcome change of pace.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 16, 2026

It’s a pleasant change of pace, something finite in contrast to her current, overwhelming, ongoing task: to prepare for her departure, picking the bones of the house clean.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri