vie
verb (used without object)
to strive in competition or rivalry with another; contend for superiority.
were vying
-
past progressiveof vie.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.
The war was fought between 1899 and 1902 between the British Empire and the two independent Boer states who were vying for control of South Africa.
From BBC ● May 12, 2026
The company on Tuesday announced the sale of its Optum UK division, capping off months of speculation that private-equity firms were vying for the business.
From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026
With a 7-2 record, the Colts were vying to win the conference and added one of the game’s premier defensive backs to bolster their push.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
The gap between buyers and sellers was far more pronounced in Sun Belt markets like Austin, Texas, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In Austin, 17,400 sellers were vying for attention from 7,600 buyers, for instance.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2025
In the 1700s, France, England, Austria, Prussia, Spain, the Netherlands, and other countries were vying for power.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
