Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rat-race

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.12 in modern English

Syllables
rat-race
IPA
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To rat run, that is, to drive on side streets, often at high speeds, to avoid traffic.

Intransitive verb; Slang; Transitive verb

verb

To partake or participate in a rat race, in all senses.

Intransitive verb; Slang

noun

Alternative form of rat race.

Example Sentences

Usage

Inflected Forms

rat-races (present, singular) rat-racing (participle, present) rat-raced (participle, past) rat-raced (past) rat-races (plural)

Questions

What does rat-race mean?
To rat run, that is, to drive on side streets, often at high speeds, to avoid traffic.

How to pronounce rat-race

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “rat-race”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “rat-race”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “rat-race” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.