Meaning & use
vie
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Meanings
verbintransitiveformal
To compete strongly with others to win or get something.
Grammar: No direct object; follow with for what is wanted and with who you compete against: vie for the title with rivals.
Patterns
- vie for something
- vie with someone for something
- vie against someone
Three candidates are vying for the job.
The two brothers vie with each other for their father's attention.
Dozens of stores vie for customers on the main street.
verbintransitiveformal
To try to outdo others in a contest of skill or quality.
Grammar: Followed by to and an infinitive or in: they vied to impress the judges.
Patterns
- vie to do something
- vie in something
The chefs vied to make the best dish.
Young athletes vie in the national games every year.
Companies vie to hire the best engineers.
Word forms
| third person singular | vies |
|---|---|
| past tense | vied |
| past participle | vied |
| -ing form | vying |
Common combinations
- vie for attention
- The children vied for attention at the party.
- vie for the title
- Two teams vie for the title this weekend.
- vie with each other
- The sisters vie with each other in every game.
- vie for power
- Rival leaders vied for power after the election.
- vie to win
- Contestants vie to win the grand prize.
- vying for position
- Runners were vying for position at the start.
Synonyms and how they differ
- compete
- Compete is the neutral, everyday word, whereas vie suggests eager rivalry for one prize.
- contend
- Contend is more formal and may mean arguing or struggling against difficulty as well as competing.
- jostle
- Jostle suggests pushing physically for position and sounds less dignified.
- battle
- Battle is stronger and implies a fierce, drawn-out struggle.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: vie or vain? vie or vein?
vie vs vain
Vain means too proud of one's looks, or useless, and is unrelated to competing.
vie vs vein
A vein is a blood vessel, and it sounds the same as vain, though not as vie.
Practice
Five bakeries are ___ the title of best in town.
Choose one answer.
Vie is followed by for when naming the prize. At, of and about are not used with vie in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vie”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.