rat race

noun

: strenuous, wearisome, and usually competitive activity or rush

Examples of rat race in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But would Miller even want that rat race if any of them wanted him? — Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026 However, lazy girl jobs might be the right fit for workers who don’t want to join the corporate rat race—and others could take on the gig as a stepping stone to their true passion. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 May 2026 Corn fritters with cilantro chimichurri Looking to leave New York’s rat race, the couple headed west in 2008. — Sarah Fritsche, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Oct. 2018 While some users view these platforms as a way to earn some extra cash on the weekend, Rodgers and others are using them as a launch pad into entrepreneurship and a way to escape the 9-to-5 rat race. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rat race

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rat race was in 1937

Rhymes for rat race

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Browse Nearby Words

ratproof
rat race
rat rhyme
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Cite this Entry

“Rat race.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rat%20race. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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