compete
verb (used without object)
to strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, profit, etc.; engage in a contest; vie: to compete in business.
have been competing
-
present perfect progressiveof compete.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Held on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul –- a vast mountain lake in northern Kyrgyzstan -- athletes have been competing in dozens of disciplines: from intellectual board games to arm-wrestling.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
The rally in MiniMax and other promising AI startups comes as Chinese tech companies have been competing to roll out increasingly advanced large-language models.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026
Women have been competing in the Olympics since 1900.
From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2026
"These athletes have been competing in senior competitions for six years with no issues," said Adams.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2024
Of recent years wealthy natives have been competing with Europeans for the possession of this desirable quarter.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 2 "Bohemia" to "Borgia, Francis" by Various
