a race against time
idiomatic phrase
variants
or a race against the clock
: a situation in which something must happen or be done quickly because little time is available
Divers pulling the 12 boys and their soccer coach from the cave were in a race against time, with the threat of rains making an already difficult rescue even more urgent.—
Richard C. Paddock and Muktita Suhartono
Richard C. Paddock and Muktita Suhartono… as everyone argued back and forth about whether to enter arbitration …, the issue of time came up. For some in the group, this was a race against the clock due to their illnesses and the need for medical treatment.—Steven Allen Bruce
Steven Allen BruceExamples of a race against time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ukraine is now in a race against time to develop countermeasures and more effectively target elite formations like Rubicon.
—David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Treatment to clear the blood of its grip is also a race against time.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025
But for supporters of Lai, the campaign to free him is a race against time.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025
The drama, which had its world premiere as a special gala at the Berlin international film festival in February, stars September 5 and Teacher’s Lounge actress Leonie Benesch as Floria, a compassionate nurse whose hectic late shift turns into a race against time amid chronic staff shortages.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a race against time
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David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Treatment to clear the blood of its grip is also a race against time.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025
But for supporters of Lai, the campaign to free him is a race against time.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025
The drama, which had its world premiere as a special gala at the Berlin international film festival in February, stars September 5 and Teacher’s Lounge actress Leonie Benesch as Floria, a compassionate nurse whose hectic late shift turns into a race against time amid chronic staff shortages.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a race against time
Cite this Entry
“A race against time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20race%20against%20time. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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