compete

[ kuhm-peet ]

verb (used without object)

, com·pet·ed, com·pet·ing.

1. to strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, profit, etc.; engage in a contest; vie: to compete in business.

   to compete in a race;

   to compete in business.

   Synonyms: struggle

compete

/ kəmˈpiːt /

verb

1. introften foll bywith to contend (against) for profit, an award, athletic supremacy, etc; engage in a contest (with)

Other Words From

• com·pet·er noun
• com·pet·ing·ly adverb
• non·com·pet·ing adjective
• out·com·pete verb (used with object) outcompeted outcompeting

Word History and Origins

Origin of compete¹

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”; com-. The Late Latin and English senses were influenced by competitor

Word History and Origins

Origin of compete¹

C17: from Late Latin competere to strive together, from Latin: to meet, come together, agree, from com- together + petere to seek

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cannot/can't compete with, to not be, by a great degree, as good or capable as (someone or something else):

   These roses are lovely, but they can’t compete with the ones we grew back home in Ecuador.

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Those brands will either have to absorb tariffs or raise costs and quality to compete with mainstream brands, he said.

From Salon

"We want to go to a World Cup - we've got to get that ticked off. If we get there, we want to compete. These players deserve to be there."

From BBC

Bennet Gershman, a law professor at Pace University, called this “a watershed moment” and said that Merchan needs to “balance competing interests” regarding the presidency and the jury’s conviction.

From Salon

People opposed to trans athletes’ inclusion say its unfair, and potentially unsafe, for people born with male traits to compete against biological females.

From Los Angeles Times

The film is being released in a healthy year for animation, with The Wild Robot, Inside Out 2 and Flow among those competing in this year's awards race.

From BBC

Related Words

• battle
• challenge
• clash
• contend
• contest
• face
• fight
• play
• spar
• try
• vie
• wrestle