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Definitions

rat race

NOUN
competition in life
Synonyms
WEAK
battle of life daily grind hamster cage survival of the fittest treadmill vicious circle

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.

China’s industrial rat race helped power the country’s economic miracle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Sami Sabet was a successful businessman before deciding to leave the "rat race" and become a sub-postmaster for three post offices around Shoreham-by-Sea.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2025

For this Money Talks, it’s time to turn the rat race into a rat walk on the beach.

From Slate • Oct. 1, 2024

Brown rats are the undisputed winners of the real rat race.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 3, 2024

Valerie was clearly weary of the rat race.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis