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Meaning & use

pitted against one another

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UK/ˌpɪtɪd əˈɡenst wʌn əˈnʌðə/
US/ˌpɪtɪd əˈɡenst wʌn əˈnʌðər/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    Placed in direct competition or conflict with each other, often by an outside force.

    Grammar: Almost always used after be or get: they were pitted against one another.

    Patterns

    • be pitted against one another
    • get pitted against one another
    • pit someone against one another

    The two teams were pitted against one another in the final round.

    In the debate, students were pitted against one another to argue opposite sides.

    The new rules pitted the workers against one another for a single bonus.

  2. phrasefixed phrase

    Set in opposition so that one side must struggle against the other.

    Grammar: Often used to describe political or social division.

    Patterns

    • be pitted against one another
    • pit communities against one another

    The election campaign pitted neighbors against one another.

    The media often pits one group against another for attention.

Common combinations

be pitted against one another
The two candidates were pitted against one another in a live debate.
pit someone against one another
The coach pitted the players against one another to see who would start.
pitted against each other
The siblings were pitted against each other for the inheritance.
pitted against one another in
The companies were pitted against one another in a race for the contract.

Synonyms and how they differ

set against each other
This is a more neutral way to say the same thing; it can describe comparison as well as conflict.
in competition with one another
This stresses the contest itself, while pitted against one another often suggests an outside force created the contest.
at odds with one another
At odds means disagreeing or in conflict, but it does not always imply a formal competition or match.

Opposites

unitedallied

Word family

pit verb
To set someone or something in opposition to another.
pitted adjective
Placed in opposition or competition.

Commonly confused: pitted against one another or pitted?

pitted against one another vs pitted

As an adjective, pitted can also mean "having small holes or marks on the surface," as in pitted skin or a pitted road. The phrase pitted against means placed in competition.

Practice

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