pacing
the act or result of setting the rate of movement or progress, as of a story, movie, lesson, etc.: The pacing of a video presentation must be appropriate; too slow is just as common (and as bad) as too fast.
the act of walking back and forth, as to expend nervous energy: For several minutes after she entered, he continued his restless pacing to and fro as if unaware of her presence.
the act of walking with slow, regular steps: Above my head, at intervals, I heard the pacing of the sentry upon the roof.
the act or process of measuring something by counting the steps taken to walk its length at a normal stride: Though surveyors find it a quick and easy way to measure distance in the field, accurate pacing can only be accomplished by practice.
walking back and forth, as to expend nervous energy: I tried to focus my attention on anything but the rapidly pacing detective, who was deep in thought.
walking with slow, regular steps: Seeing the pacing security guard in front of the sliding doors, she looked around quickly for another way out.
(of a horse or other animal) moving in such a way that the feet on the same side are lifted and put down together: A pacing horse will swing its head from side to side as opposed to up and down.
Origin of pacing
1Words Nearby pacing
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pacing in a sentence
The rapid pace of all this is jarring — but it’s also exactly how I predicted that the show would end.
Supernatural’s bonkers series finale marked the end of an era of fandom | Aja Romano | November 20, 2020 | Vox“The supply isn’t keeping pace with demand,” said Amy Hewett, spokeswoman for the Virginia Health Care Association.
Maryland and Virginia nursing homes battle explosive covid-19 outbreaks — again | Rebecca Tan, Rachel Chason | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostBuzzFeed has managed to turn its commerce operation into a strength — it is on pace to generate more than $50 million in revenue this year — but it has done so largely with deals aimed at younger, price-conscious readers and audiences.
‘They wanted to unload it bad’: Why HuffPost made sense for BuzzFeed – and Verizon Media Group | Max Willens | November 20, 2020 | DigidayNot because of Ng’s abilities but because of the glacial pace at which the male-dominated sports leagues embrace change.
Baseball told Kim Ng no (and no, and no) before it finally said yes | Candace Buckner | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostPaul has a special combination of quickness, pace, precision, vision, shooting touch and spatial awareness that allows him to find creases in defenses that few others can access.
Chris Paul Helped Blake Griffin Shine. Can He Do The Same For Deandre Ayton? | Jared Dubin | November 18, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
We see the pacing and its effect on the people below, all in one shot.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn short, Tuchman writes with great brio, exquisite pacing, and a keen eye for telling details and arresting quotes.
Barbara Tuchman’s ‘The Guns of August’ Is Still WWI’s Peerless Chronicle | James A. Warren | September 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe animation is beautifully rendered and the storytelling top notch even if the pacing is, at times, erratic.
This Author Kills More Darlings Than George R.R. Martin | David Levesley | September 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt stayed at the top for three days, out-pacing tracks by Maroon 5, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent.
When Bratton descended to the trains, a man was pacing the platform edge, ranting in Spanish.
His pacing had brought him to the opposite end of the board, where stood the cup of wine madame had poured for Marius.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniThe men were about to fight when the others interfered, saying it was only fair a third party should do the pacing.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnThe governor was pacing back and forth in his private office, talking with the sheriff who sat near-by.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. MatthewsTo attain this end the student should begin by pacing some length of road where the distances are well known.
Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate ShalerYou might be pacing the tiled hall of a suburban villa, rather than the House of God.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries | Charles G. Harper
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