drag race

American  

noun

1. a race between two or more automobiles starting from a standstill, the winner being the car that can accelerate the fastest.

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drag race British  

noun

1. a type of motor race in which specially built or modified cars or motorcycles are timed over a measured course

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Other Word Forms

• drag racer
  noun
• drag racing
  noun

Etymology

Origin of drag race

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drag race

They finished side by side in a straight drag race to the line.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

She’s won the drag race but now she shows every sign of winning the Indianapolis 500.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2024

During an interview, Elon Musk, who looked like the ghost of a guy who died in a 1950s drag race, was asked if he was antisemitic and said that he was in fact philosemitic.

From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2023

The former England cricketer was involved in a scare while filming a Top Gear drag race in September 2019.

From BBC ● Dec. 13, 2022

Shout-out to the brave and patient souls who routinely waited upwards of 80 minutes to embark on this Pixar-inspired drag race before the public health crisis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2021