pacemakers
/ˈpeɪsˌmeɪkərz/
NOUN
1. A person who sets the pace
A person who establishes or maintains the speed of a race or activity, guiding others by determining the rate of movement or progress.
1.1. Racing and athletic competitions
Used for runners or competitors who establish or maintain a particular speed during a race, helping other participants regulate their performance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- followers
- imitators
- Johnnies-come-lately
- Johnny-come-latelies
- me-tooers
Examples
- The pacemakers maintained a consistent speed throughout the marathon.
- Experienced pacemakers helped the other runners achieve their target finishing times.
Related Words
- athletes
- runners
- competitors
- front-runners
- race leaders
- tempo
1.2. Leadership and pioneering
Used figuratively for individuals or organizations that lead their fields, introduce innovations, establish new standards, or influence the direction of future developments.
Synonyms
- bellwethers
- foregoers
- forerunners
- groundbreakers
- harbingers
- heralds
- innovators
- leaders
- pioneers
- precursors
- trend-setters
- trendsetters
Antonyms
- followers
- imitators
- Johnnies-come-lately
- Johnny-come-latelies
- me-tooers
Examples
- The companies became pacemakers in the development of renewable energy technology.
- These innovative researchers are pacemakers in their respective scientific fields.
- The organizations served as pacemakers for technological progress and industry standards.
Related Words
- trailblazers
- visionaries
- pathfinders
- initiators
- originators
- vanguards
- pioneers