space race

American

[speys reys] / ˈspeɪs ˌreɪs /

noun

a Cold War rivalry in which the United States and the Soviet Union competed for primacy in space exploration, beginning with the Soviet launch of the artificial satellite Sputnik I on October 4, 1957, and effectively ending with the moon landing of the U.S. manned module Eagle on July 20, 1969.

Etymology

Origin of space race

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Queried on the so-called "space race," Isaacman said Friday that "I think competition is good."

From Barron's

The faceoff promises to stoke an even hotter 21st-century space race—this time between this era’s real superpowers: billionaires.

From The Wall Street Journal

The direct competition promises to stoke an even hotter 21st-century space race—this time between this era’s real superpowers: billionaires.

From The Wall Street Journal

Instead, the U.S. now has the momentum, competence and leadership to dominate the space race in the private and public sectors.

From The Wall Street Journal

America’s place in the current space race owes a lot to Mr. Musk and SpaceX.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023