race
gb/ɹˈeɪs/ us/ɹˈeɪs/
A2
English
~ 2600
verseny, rassz, versenyez, versenyt fut, emberiség
NOUN
A2
1
verseny
A2
Usage pattern:
to win/lose a race
She trained for months to win the marathon race.
Hónapokig edzett, hogy megnyerje a maratoni versenyt.
The horse race attracted thousands of spectators.
A lóverseny több ezer nézőt vonzott.
He entered the 100-meter race at school.
They watched the final lap of the car race on TV.
Learner examples
I ran in a race at school.
Futóversenyen vettem részt az iskolában.
The race was very fast.
A verseny nagyon gyors tempójú volt.
She won the race easily.
We watched the race together.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'race' with 'run'. 'Race' is the event, while 'run' is the action of moving fast on foot.
Meaning
competition of speed
Collocations
win a race
|lose a race
|foot race
|car race
|enter a race
Synonyms
contest (General term for a competition, not necessarily about speed.)
|
sprint (Refers to a short, fast running race specifically.)
Antonyms
walkover (A competition that is won very easily without real contest.)
Themes
sports
|daily life
|transportation
Definition
A contest to see who can go the fastest and finish first.
A competition in which people, animals, or vehicles try to move faster than others to reach a goal first.
NOUN
B1
2
rassz
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s race
The census asks questions about each person's race.
A népszámlálás mindenki rasszára rákérdez.
He identifies as belonging to the Asian race.
Az ázsiai rasszhoz tartozónak vallja magát.
Discussions about race can be sensitive topics.
Learner examples
My race is Asian.
Ázsiai rasszhoz tartozom.
People of every race live here.
Minden rassz képviselői élnek itt.
We talked about race in class.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'race' with 'nationality'; nationality is about citizenship, not physical traits or ancestry.
Meaning
ethnic or physical group
Collocations
human race
|mixed race
|racial equality
|race relations
Synonyms
ethnicity (Focuses more on cultural identity than physical traits.)
Antonyms
individual (Refers to a single person rather than a group based on shared traits.)
Themes
society
|identity
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A group of people who have similar physical traits or family history.
A category of humans distinguished by shared physical characteristics, ancestry, or genetic heritage.
VERB
A2
3
versenyez
B1
versenyt fut
B1
Usage pattern:
to race [someone/something]
They raced each other to the bus stop.
Versenyt futottak egymással a buszmegállóig.
The two cyclists raced for the finish line.
A két kerékpáros a célvonalig versenyzett.
We raced home before the rain started.
Learner examples
I raced my friend to school.
Versenyeztem a barátommal, hogy ki ér előbb az iskolába.
They raced to the park.
Versenyt futottak a parkig.
We raced to catch the train.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'race' always needs an opponent; it can also mean hurrying alone toward something.
Meaning
compete by moving fast
Collocations
race against time
|race each other
|race home
Synonyms
speed (General term for moving quickly, not necessarily in competition.)
Antonyms
crawl (To move very slowly.)
Themes
sports
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go very fast to try to be first.
To move quickly in order to compete with others or to reach a goal before them.
NOUN
B1
4
emberiség
B2
Usage pattern:
the human race
The survival of the human race depends on protecting our environment.
Az emberiség fennmaradása azon múlik, hogy megvédjük-e a környezetünket.
War has threatened the existence of the human race many times.
A háború már sokszor fenyegette az emberiség létét.
The human race has achieved incredible technological progress.
Learner examples
The human race lives on Earth.
Az emberiség a Földön él.
The human race is big.
Az emberiség nagyon népes.
The human race makes many things.
Meaning
all human beings collectively
Collocations
the human race
Synonyms
humanity (More formal and emotional term for all humans collectively.)
Antonyms
animals (Refers to non-human creatures.)
Themes
society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
All people in the world together.
All human beings considered as one group or species.
Grammar
Dictionary form
race
IPA
GB/ɹˈeɪs/
US/ɹˈeɪs/
Syllables & stress
race (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (race)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: race
- Plural: race, races
Verb
- Base: race
- 3rd Person Singular: races
- Present Participle: racing
- Past: raced
Word family
Forms
races
noun
racing
verb
raced
verb
Core family
racer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
anti-racist
adjective
anti-racism
noun C1
Advanced or less common
racially
adverb
Expressions
off to the races
1/ˈɔf tə ðə ɹˈeɪsɪz/
idiom
informal
start quickly and energetically
To start doing something with energy and excitement.
Examples
- Once we got the funding, we were off to the races with our project.
- She grabbed her bag and was off to the races.
race against time
1/ɹˈeɪs əɡˈɛnst tˈaɪm/
idiom
hurry to meet a deadline
To try to finish something very fast before time runs out.
Examples
- It was a race against time to rescue the miners before the floodwaters rose.
- We’re in a race against time to get the project done before Friday.
run a close race
1/ɹˈʌn ə klˈoʊs ɹˈeɪs/
idiom
competition with narrow margin
To compete in a way where it is almost equal until the end.
Examples
- The two candidates ran a close race in the election.
- It was a close race between the two swimmers until the final lap.