vie
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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Archaic. to put forward in competition or rivalry.
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Obsolete. to stake in card playing.
verb
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(intr; foll by with or for) to contend for superiority or victory (with) or strive in competition (for)
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archaic (tr) to offer, exchange, or display in rivalry
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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viesimple
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viessimple
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have viedperfect
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has viedperfect
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am vyingprogressive
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are vyingprogressive
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is vyingprogressive
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have been vyingperfect progressive
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has been vyingperfect progressive
Past
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viedsimple
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had viedperfect
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was vyingprogressive
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were vyingprogressive
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had been vyingperfect progressive
Future
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”
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.”
Vocabulary lists containing vie
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Beowulf
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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.
The overhaul occurs as two candidates vie to become the elected superintendent in November.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
And the second is this World Cup will feature a third-placed table for the first time since 1994 as teams vie for the eight remaining slots.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
Disgruntled by rising living costs and disillusioned by unfulfilled economic and social promises, the Swiss are at the vanguard of industrialized countries questioning the benefits of immigration, even the high-skilled workers many vie to attract.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Aging parents can bring out the worst in adult children, who vie for control of their parents’ attention, their love and their finances.
From MarketWatch • May 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
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.
