relay race

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noun Sports.

a race between two or more teams of contestants, each contestant being relieved by a teammate after running part of the distance.

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Compare medley relay.

Origin of relay race

First recorded in 1895–1900

Words nearby relay race

relaxer, relaxin, relay, relay fast, relay language, relay race, relearn, release, release copy, release date, released time

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT RELAY RACE

What is a relay race?

A relay race is a race between two or more teams in which each member of a team completes a portion of the race. A relay race is often simply called a relay.

Relay races are held in both track and swimming. Each portion of a relay race is called a leg, and each leg is completed by a different member of the team. The time it takes to complete a leg is called a split. The final leg is usually completed by the fastest team member, often called the anchor.

In track, as one member finishes, they must pass a baton to the next team member in a designated area.

Some relay races, called medley relays, include a combination of different lengths, such as in a sprint medley or a distance medley. In swimming, medley relays involve each teammate using a different swim stroke.

Two different track relay races are events in the Summer Olympic Games: the 4×100 meter race (in which each of the four team members runs 100 meters), and the 4×400 meter race (in which each of the four team members runs 400 meters).

Swimming relays in the Summer Olympics include the 4×100 meter freestyle relay, the 4×200 meter freestyle relay, and the 4×100 meter medley relay.

Example: I can’t believe how slow I’ve become—I used to be my track team’s anchor in relay races.

Where does relay race come from?

The first records of the term relay race come from the late 1800s, which is when track relay races began to gain popularity in the U.S.

In early relay races, a flag or torch was passed between teammates instead of a baton. The 4×100 relay was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1912. The women’s 4×100 relay was added to the Olympics in 1928.

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What are some synonyms for relay race?

relay

What are some words that share a root or word element with relay race?

What are some words that often get used in discussing relay race?

How is relay race used in real life?

Relay races are often simply called relays. They are often held as events in track and swimming. Children sometimes participate in relay races that involve things like carrying eggs.

Congrats to St. Katharine Drexel who broke a 36 year record in Class 2A with a 3:59:53 in the 4×400 meter relay race! pic.twitter.com/AbHT2wALVN

— LHSAA (@LHSAA) May 4, 2019

Big weekend for @CullenJones! Congrats to the SwimMAC team for their record-breaking 200 medley relay race. Final time: 1:23.02. @swimmacc

— Speedo USA (@SpeedoUSA) December 10, 2013

Best relay race in olympic history! Did you see the US come from behind to win? Amazing, and inspiring!!!

— Lewis Howes (@LewisHowes) August 11, 2008

Try using relay race!

True or False?

In track, every runner in a relay race always runs the same distance.

How to use relay race in a sentence

In the past, they have sponsored pizza and drinks for a fantasy-football draft and also covered the race fees for a 24-hour team relay race in the mountains.
The 50 Best Places to Work in 2021|smurguia|November 9, 2021|Outside Online
Managers choreographed a relay race, with handoffs of vaccine containers outside the biosafety airlocks.
Inside Pfizer’s race to produce the world’s biggest supply of covid vaccine|Christopher Rowland|June 16, 2021|Washington Post
Even if Fairphone wanted to support a phone forever, Android software updates do not work that way, and major OS updates normally rely on a relay race of companies that all need to hand-off a build of Android before it reaches your phone.
Fairphone suggests Qualcomm is the biggest barrier to long-term Android support|Ron Amadeo|March 25, 2021|Ars Technica
On Thursday, Garcetti ruled himself out of the race to succeed Boxer.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Think back to the Bush-Kerry race of 2004, the Thrilla in Vanilla.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
How far has Congress really evolved on race when in 50 years it has gone from one black senator to two?
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If Congress accurately reflected our nation on the basis of race, about 63 percent would be white, not 80 percent.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Each individual race involves an unusual collaboration between researchers, manufacturers, and public-health entities.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His hero, Gulliver, discovers race after race of beings who typify the genera in his classification of mankind.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
Ever since his majority Lord Hetton had annually entered a colt in the great race.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Decide about it, ye that are learned in the ethnographic distinctions of our race—but heaven defend us from the Bourbonnaises!
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
His unbounded generosity won for him the admiration of all his race, who graciously recognized him as their Maguinoó.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
One of the lower and mixed forms of artistic activity, in the case of the child and of the race alike, is personal adornment.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for relay race

relay race

noun

a race between two or more teams of contestants in which each contestant covers a specified portion of the distance

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012