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

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

Accepting the job offer meant a change of pace - but all-areas access within one of global sport's most famous and glamourous clubs.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 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

I don’t want to sugarcoat the challenge of finding a job in your 60s, but a change of pace might help you feel differently about still working.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026

I’m sure it’s at least partly to do with that, to do with preparing for the change of pace, that I’ve been getting this urge to order all these old memories.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro