compete

[kuhm-peet]

verb (used without object)

competed, competing 

1. to strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, profit, etc.; engage in a contest; vie: to compete in business.

   to compete in a race;

   to compete in business.

   Synonyms: struggle

compete

/ kəmˈpiːt /

verb

1. to contend (against) for profit, an award, athletic supremacy, etc; engage in a contest (with)

Other Word Forms

• competer noun
• competingly adverb
• noncompeting adjective
• outcompete verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of compete¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin competere “to meet, coincide, be fitting, suffice” ( Late Latin: “to seek, ask for”), equivalent to com- “with, together” + petere “to seek”; com-. The Late Latin and English senses were influenced by competitor

Word History and Origins

Origin of compete¹

C17: from Late Latin competere to strive together, from Latin: to meet, come together, agree, from com- together + petere to seek

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cannot/can't compete with, to not be, by a great degree, as good or capable as (someone or something else).

   These roses are lovely, but they can’t compete with the ones we grew back home in Ecuador.

Synonym Study

Compete, contend, contest mean to strive to outdo or excel. Compete implies having a sense of rivalry and of striving to do one's best as well as to outdo another: to compete for a prize. Contend suggests opposition or disputing as well as rivalry: to contend with an opponent, against obstacles. Contest suggests struggling to gain or hold something, as well as contending or disputing: to contest a position or ground ( in battle ); to contest a decision.

Example Sentences

The polls have suggested Reform and Plaid Cymru are currently competing to be the largest party.

Read more on BBC

Perry Sook says broadcasters need to grow to better compete with tech companies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In August, China held a humanoid robotics Olympics, where devices competed in soccer, kickboxing and even cleaning rooms.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But now times are different, and, until recently, rivals got rewarded almost uniformly for boosting their spending forecasts in a race to compete.

Read more on MarketWatch

But now times are different, and, until recently, rivals got rewarded almost uniformly for boosting their spending forecasts in a race to compete.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• battle 
• challenge 
• clash 
• contend 
• contest 
• face 
• fight 
• play 
• spar 
• try 
• vie 
• wrestle