compete

compete — verb

1. to try to win or achieve something that other people, companies, or groups also

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to try to win or achieve something that other people, companies, or groups also want, by being better, faster, or more efficient than them.

Example

Small local shops find it hard to compete with large supermarket chains.

compete with [competitor]

Several big companies are competing for the contract to build the new airport.

compete for [prize/opportunity]

Common collocations
  • compete fiercely
  • compete directly
  • compete effectively
  • compete globally
  • compete on price
Synonyms
  • vie

    more literary and intense; suggests a fierce, active struggle

  • contend

    more formal; often used for positions, titles, or arguments

  • rival

    can mean to be as good as someone, not necessarily in a direct contest

  • go head to head

    informal idiom for a direct, evenly matched competition

Antonyms
  • cooperate

    working together instead of trying to outdo each other

Grammar Patterns

compete + with/against + [somebody/something]

compete + for + [something]

compete + to + infinitive

Usage Note

Always intransitive — you cannot 'compete someone'. Use a preposition (with, against, for) before the opponent or goal.

Common Mistakes

Our company competes them in price.
Our company competes with them in price.
Compete is intransitive and always needs a preposition before the opponent.
He competed the first prize.
He competed for the first prize.
Use the preposition 'for' when stating the goal or prize.

2. to join an organized event, such as a race, game, or tournament, where participa

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to join an organized event, such as a race, game, or tournament, where participants try to do better than each other.

Example

Athletes from over 90 countries will compete in the Olympic Games next summer.

compete in [event/competition]

The school team is competing in the regional football championship this weekend.

Common collocations
  • compete in the finals
  • compete in a tournament
  • compete professionally
  • compete at the national level
Synonyms
  • take part

    less intense; focuses on participation rather than winning

  • participate

    more formal; simply means to be involved

  • enter

    emphasizes the act of signing up for a competition

  • play

    specifically used for games and team sports

Grammar Patterns

compete + in + [event/competition]

Usage Note

Focuses on being a participant in an organized event; emphasize the event itself rather than the goal. Unlike sense 1, the opponent is often not named. Always use the preposition in before the event.

Common Mistakes

She competed the race last weekend.
She competed in the race last weekend.
You must use 'in' before the event name.
He competed with the tournament.
He competed in the tournament.
Use 'in' for the event; use 'with' for the opponent.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Compete is the most general and common word for trying to be better than others. Vie suggests a more intense, active struggle, often used in literary or formal contexts — for example, two teams vying for the championship. Contend is more formal and implies a focused effort against an opponent, as in three candidates contending for the presidency. Rival as a verb means to be as good as or nearly equal to someone, without necessarily entering a direct contest — for instance, no other software rivals this program's speed. Go head to head is an informal idiom for a direct, often evenly matched competition, such as two companies going head to head in the smartphone market.

viecontend ↗rival ↗go head to head

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • compete for a prize
  • compete on price
  • compete at a high level
  • compete for attention

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word compete comes from Latin competere, a combination of com- ('together') and petere ('to seek, to strive'), which together meant 'to strive together.' Over time, the meaning shifted from working toward a common goal to striving against one another in rivalry. The word entered English through French in the early 1600s.