auto racing

American

noun

the sport of racing automobiles in which drivers compete against each other on a course designed for racing or on closed public roads.

Etymology

Origin of auto racing

Probably earlier than 1965–70

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.

Devotees of European-based, open-wheeled auto racing already know what happened during the 2025 season.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

The story is, BMW entered auto racing in 1936, with a model called the 328.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025

However, it is arguably in Nascar where Gordon is best known, having spent more than two decades competing in the beloved auto racing series.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 20, 2025

China is relatively new to auto racing, and Shanghai held its first GP in 2004.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 17, 2024

Hacker sports are almost always primarily self-competitive ones involving concentration, stamina, and micromotor skills: martial arts, bicycling, auto racing, kite flying, hiking, rock climbing, aviation, target-shooting, sailing, caving, juggling, skiing, skating, skydiving, scuba diving.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.

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