set the pace
idiom
: to be the one that is at the front in a race and that controls how fast the other racers have to go
—often used figuratively
The company's advanced equipment sets the pace for the recording industry.
Examples of set the pace in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump has repeatedly claimed that his threat to implement heavy tariffs—even against close allies such as Mexico and Canada—is merely an attempt to set the pace for potential negotiations over any number of issues, such as fentanyl.
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
With an intermission halfway through and a — wait for it — budget under $10 million, The Brutalist was the talk of this year’s Venice Film Festival; Corbet scooped up the best director award, and his stars, Adrien Brody and Jones, set the pace for what are shaping up to be fierce acting races.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024
Robert McCray, who averaged a team-leading 18.4 points a game last season, set the pace for Jacksonville with 20 points.
—Mark Long, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024
The richest man in Asia, with his net worth estimated at about $120 billion, Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita set the pace for a celebration that outdid even the huge, ostentatious events for their daughter Isha in 2018 and son Akash in 2019.
—Mayu Saini, WWD, 15 July 2024
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
With an intermission halfway through and a — wait for it — budget under $10 million, The Brutalist was the talk of this year’s Venice Film Festival; Corbet scooped up the best director award, and his stars, Adrien Brody and Jones, set the pace for what are shaping up to be fierce acting races.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024
Robert McCray, who averaged a team-leading 18.4 points a game last season, set the pace for Jacksonville with 20 points.
—Mark Long, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024
The richest man in Asia, with his net worth estimated at about $120 billion, Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita set the pace for a celebration that outdid even the huge, ostentatious events for their daughter Isha in 2018 and son Akash in 2019.
—Mayu Saini, WWD, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for set the pace
Dictionary Entries Near set the pace
Cite this Entry
“Set the pace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20the%20pace. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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