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
After these runway players set the pace, plenty of other brands joined in, offering a wealth of choice.
—
R29 Team, refinery29.com, 29 Jan. 2025
His successful debut in the NASCAR Busch Series (now known as the Xfinity Series) in 2002 set the pace for a career that would quickly evolve into a robust Cup Series career spanning 15 years, filled with 18 wins, 93 top-five finishes, and 176 top-ten finishes.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Click below to see a jogger set the pace for a herd of traveling goats
A video that went viral with more than 17 million views shows Tisdall trying to persuade the goats to stay put.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024
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.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for set the pace 
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R29 Team, refinery29.com, 29 Jan. 2025
His successful debut in the NASCAR Busch Series (now known as the Xfinity Series) in 2002 set the pace for a career that would quickly evolve into a robust Cup Series career spanning 15 years, filled with 18 wins, 93 top-five finishes, and 176 top-ten finishes.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Click below to see a jogger set the pace for a herd of traveling goats
A video that went viral with more than 17 million views shows Tisdall trying to persuade the goats to stay put.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024
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.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
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 10 Feb. 2025.
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