a track meet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a track meet" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an event where athletes compete in various track and field events. Example: "The school is hosting a track meet this Saturday, and all students are encouraged to participate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Think of the Web as a track meet.

The New Yorker

Tortorella said the first period was "a track meet, and we can't get into a track meet".

The New York Times - Sports

She saw her son Kevin in a track meet.

The New York Times

If you get into that game, it's a track meet.

The New York Times - Sports

I know football is not a track meet.

The New York Times - Sports

"We're running a track meet Saturday," Gay told him.

The New York Times - Sports

She said it calmly as though she were a bored sports commentator reviewing a track meet.

The New York Times

That evening Regenery takes his stepson, Simon, 8, to a track meet at Madison Sq.

The New Yorker

"The law requires more of us than of officials at a track meet," he said.

The New York Times

My goodness, this isn't a track meet, it's the mofo Olympics, people.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"If he has the ball, it's 'Get out of my way.' It's a track meet".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a track meet" to refer to a specific event, not as a general term for track and field. For general references, use "track and field".

Common error

Avoid using "a track meet" to describe a broad range of athletic activities; it specifically refers to an organized event featuring track and field competitions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a track meet" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It serves to identify a specific type of sporting event where athletes compete in various track and field disciplines. Ludwig shows examples from diverse contexts, confirming its role in describing such events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

25%

General Conversation

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a track meet" is a common noun phrase referring to an organized athletic event featuring track and field competitions. Ludwig confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used, predominantly in news, sports reporting, and general conversation. While the term is generally neutral in tone, be mindful of the context to ensure its appropriate usage. Remember that "track and field" represents the general category, while "a track meet" describes a specific event. If needed, alternatives like "track and field event" or "athletics competition" may suit specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

track competition

A more concise way of referring to a competitive track event.

track event

Omission of the word "meet" to make the expression more concise.

track and field event

Replaces "meet" with "event" to maintain the meaning of a sporting competition involving running and field events.

athletics competition

Uses a more formal term, "athletics", to describe a similar competitive event.

racing event

Focuses on the racing aspect, suitable when emphasizing speed and competition.

sports day

Refers to an event, often in schools, that includes various athletic competitions including track events.

athletic games

A more general term indicating a set of competitive physical activities.

running competition

Highlights the running aspect of the event.

sprint event

Focuses specifically on sprinting races rather than the broader range of track and field events.

field day

Similar to sports day, often includes non-track related games and activities.

FAQs

How can I use "a track meet" in a sentence?

"A track meet" refers to a specific athletic event featuring running and field competitions. For example, "My daughter is competing in "a track meet" this weekend".

What's the difference between "a track meet" and "track and field"?

"A track meet" is a specific event or competition. "Track and field" is the general category of sports that includes running, jumping, and throwing events.

Are there alternative phrases for "a track meet"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "track and field event", "athletics competition", or "sports day".

Is it correct to say "attend to a track meet"?

It's more common to say "attend "a track meet"" or "go to "a track meet"". The preposition "to" is typically used with "go".