compete

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   To take part in a contest and try to win it.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by in, for or against: compete in a race.

   Patterns

   • compete in something
   • compete for something
   • compete against someone

   Over two hundred athletes will compete in the marathon.

   She competed against the best swimmers in the country.

   The two teams compete for the cup each spring.

2. 2verbintransitivebusiness

   To try to gain something, such as customers or attention, at the expense of others.

   Grammar: Often used for businesses; with with: compete with rivals.

   Patterns

   • compete with someone for something
   • compete on something

   Small shops cannot compete with the big supermarkets on price.

   Many apps compete for our attention every day.

   The two firms compete for the same customers.

3. 3verbintransitive

   To be equal in quality or appeal to something else.

   Grammar: Usually used with negatives: cannot compete.

   Patterns

   • compete with something

   Nothing can compete with a home-cooked meal.

   The old camera cannot compete with a modern phone.

   Her cooking could easily compete with a restaurant.

Word forms

Common combinations

compete for a place

Ten players compete for a place in the final.

compete against rivals

The firm competes against much larger rivals.

compete on price

Small shops struggle to compete on price.

compete at a high level

She still competes at a high level at the age of 40.

compete internationally

He hopes to compete internationally next year.

unable to compete

Local farmers were unable to compete with cheap imports.

Synonyms and how they differ

contend

Contend is more formal and often suggests a struggle against difficulty, as well as a contest.

vie

Vie is rather literary and stresses an eager, often tense rivalry for something.

rival

Rival, as a verb, means to be equal to, and takes an object: nothing rivals this view.

participate

Participate means take part, and does not suggest trying to beat others.

Opposites

Word family

competition noun

a contest, or the rivalry between people or firms

competitor noun

a person or business that competes

competitive adjective

involving or liking competition

competitively adverb

in a way that involves competing

uncompetitive adjective

not good enough to compete well

Commonly confused: compete or compete/complete?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “compete”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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