vie

American  

[vahy] / vaɪ /

verb (used without object)

• vies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• vied,
  past participle,  past
• vying
  present participle

1. to strive in competition or rivalry with another; contend for superiority.

   Swimmers from many nations were vying for the title.

   Synonyms:

   struggle, contest, compete

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verb (used with object)

• vies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• vied,
  past participle,  past
• vying
  present participle

1. Archaic. to put forward in competition or rivalry.

2. Obsolete. to stake in card playing.

vie British  

/ vaɪ /

verb

1. (intr; foll by with or for) to contend for superiority or victory (with) or strive in competition (for)

2. archaic (tr) to offer, exchange, or display in rivalry

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• vier
  noun
• outvie
  verb (used with object)
• vying
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• vying
  present
• vied
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• vie
  simple
• vies
  simple
• have vied
  perfect
• has vied
  perfect
• am vying
  progressive
• are vying
  progressive
• is vying
  progressive
• have been vying
  perfect progressive
• has been vying
  perfect progressive

Past

• vied
  simple
• had vied
  perfect
• was vying
  progressive
• were vying
  progressive
• had been vying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will vie
  simple
• will have vied
  perfect
• will be vying
  progressive
• will have been vying
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of vie

First recorded in 1525–35; by shortening of Middle French envier “to raise the stake (at cards),” Old French: “to challenge, provoke,” from Latin invītāre “to entertain, treat, invite”

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Explanation

To vie for something means to compete for it. Two teams may vie for the gold medal, but one will have to go home with silver. Vie may be spelled the same as the French word, vie, but they are pronounced differently, vī and vē respectively, and are not related in meaning or history. English vie comes from the Latin verb meaning "to invite" as in to invite a challenge. Be careful of the spelling which includes an ie to y shift. “He intends to vie for the top prize,” but “He is vying for the top prize.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vie vies vied vying

The winner of the Juvenile normally is anointed the early favorite for next spring’s Kentucky Derby, but Hughes will have to vie for that label with U.S.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Major American studio releases vie against festival favorites in the animated feature competition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

In the country’s highly fractured legislature, where well over a dozen political parties vie for power, these are notable developments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

Now, Portland is experiencing a rarely seen housing competition, where higher-end apartments vie for some of the same tenants as income-restricted units.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

That was all the time that was left for the teams to vie for the top ten spots and advance to the final day of the competition.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

The deal would give Amazon’s Leo satellite venture a boost as it vies with SpaceX’s dominant Starlink network.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

Five years after it acquired MGM for £8m, Amazon now looks to have its first big commercial hit on hands - as it vies for position with the other major streamers.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2026

Meanwhile, Ariana Grande vies once again for a supporting actor prize for her performance as Glinda in “Wicked: For Good.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026

Google meanwhile has been investing heavily in AI as it vies with OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon and others to lead with the technology.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025

Deepdene is attractive both within and without, for its grand collection of art-treasures vies with Nature in affording delight to the visitor.

From England, Picturesque and Descriptive A Reminiscence of Foreign Travel by Joel Cook

The fast-moving blaze prompted widespread evacuation orders as multiple helicopters vied to douse the flames.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

Columbia University in New York and the state of Hawaii also vied for the honor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026

The PR consultant vied for the job of White House spokesperson for Trump's second term, but the president ultimately picked long-time loyalist Karoline Leavitt.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

According to Tokyo's metropolitan government, some 108,000 people vied to get one of the 4,400 slots available for one last look at the zoo's beloved pandas.

From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2026

The Syrian brothers vied for her attention as she sang the heavy blues that Bailey and I almost understood.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

But of 22 candidates vying for the most hotly contested Senate seats this year, just five are female.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

Estuardo Mazariegos, co-director of the L.A. chapter of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, and Jose Ugarte, who previously served as a deputy chief of staff to Price, are vying for the seat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

The AI lab that touched off the boom almost four years ago is vying for its own IPO next year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

He is, after all, vying to become Bayern's first winner since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's second successive triumph in 1981.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

As we pulled into the lorry station, vying vendors clamored at our windows.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

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Related Words

• contend
• strive

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