compete
Americanverb (used without object)
idioms
verb
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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competesimple
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competessimple
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have competedperfect
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has competedperfect
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am competingprogressive
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are competingprogressive
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is competingprogressive
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have been competingperfect progressive
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has been competingperfect progressive
Past
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competedsimple
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had competedperfect
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was competingprogressive
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were competingprogressive
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had been competingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of compete
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”; see com-. The Late Latin and English senses were influenced by competitor
Explanation
In sports you compete against the opposing team. At work you compete for a promotion. With siblings, you compete for everything. Compete means to vie for a goal. The urge to compete is universal and human, from kids who say "Race ya!," to great athletes who manage to achieve the impossible when faced with a worthy opponent. Some people are more inclined to compete than others. They are viewed as competitive and may be accused of turning everything into a competition.
Vocabulary lists containing compete
"Play Ball!"
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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.
See Examples For:
At 34, Le Clos won't compete in as many races this time but is set to be on the blocks for the men's 50m and 100m butterfly events.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Leonardo, along with Airbus and French defence firm Thales, meanwhile plan to merge their satellite operations to create a powerhouse to compete against Elon Musk's Starlink internet system.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
"I want to help us compete for trophies and make more history, together with our supporters."
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
As they compete to make flying cars a reality, air taxi companies Archer and Joby are involved in a complex legal battle that has spanned half a year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
What use was it trying to compete with the Americans: they would always have the head start.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
It also competes with Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Amazon, which have steadily gained customers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
In our conversation, he outlines his "Patchwork" concept, in which traditional nation-states are replaced with a global network of sovereign mini-countries owned by shareholders and competing for citizens like a business competes for customers.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
That leaves ranchers with fewer buyers, weaker bargaining power and less reliable access to processing capacity — especially as more imported beef competes for space in the same supply chain.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
The vaccine in question competes with one marketed by the Australian company CSL Seqirus under the brand name Fluad.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
At night, every living thing competes for a chance to be heard.
From "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson
The Summer Games in Atlanta marked the first time since 1952 that the Russian team competed but didn’t win gold.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Rapp, from Indiana, competed in athletics before transitioning to boxing.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
When reception was good, they watched weekend shows in which K-pop idols competed, all colourful hair and slick moves.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Every gymnast who competed in the team final was in her 20s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Sula never competed; she simply helped others define themselves.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
It recently signed large deals with OpenAI and Meta Platforms and is competing to win over younger AI startups as customers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
For others, competing at the Games is a win in itself.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
“It will create a scaled media and entertainment company capable of competing with the tech companies that have come to dominate the industry.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
It obtained a full UK banking licence from regulators in March, lifting restrictions on it competing with established retail lenders in its home market.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The club had distinguished itself by competing every year in the Metropolitan Chess League, often defeating dozens of clubs throughout the New York area.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
