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.
were competing
-
past progressiveof compete.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
If employers were competing for talent, we’d see it in pay, yet annual earnings growth is just 3.2%, the lowest since before the pandemic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Two separate mourning periods were announced and at one point there were competing condolence books.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
While the Dodgers were competing for an unthinkable second consecutive championship, Vesia was mourning an unimaginable loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
Sundowns, who are seeking a ninth consecutive league title, received a bye as they were competing in the CAF Champions League.
From Barron's ● Nov. 23, 2025
Coach Mustilli was also letting me fence during varsity matches more often, especially when we were competing at larger matches against more than one school.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
