Meaning & use
space race
Last updated
Meanings
nounsingular
The competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 20th century to explore and control space.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the': the space race. Not plural in this sense.
Patterns
- the space race
- during the space race
The space race began after World War II and lasted into the 1970s.
The launch of Sputnik in 1957 intensified the space race.
The space race led to the first human landing on the Moon in 1969.
nouncountable or uncountable
Any intense competition between countries or companies to develop space technology.
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' or in the plural: a new space race, several space races.
Patterns
- a space race between countries
- a new space race
China and India are now in a new space race.
Private companies have started a commercial space race.
Some experts say we are entering a second space race.
Common combinations
- win the space race
- The US wanted to win the space race by landing on the Moon first.
- during the space race
- Many new technologies were developed during the space race.
- the height of the space race
- At the height of the space race, both countries launched rockets almost every month.
- a new space race
- A new space race is taking shape among private companies.
Commonly confused: space race or arms race?
space race vs arms race
An arms race is a competition to build more weapons, while a space race is about space exploration and technology.
Practice
The space race was mainly a competition between which two countries?
Choose one answer.
The original space race was between the US and the Soviet Union. The other pairs did not compete in that historical race.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “space race”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.