Meaning & use
vying
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“vying” is a form of “vie”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
The -ing form of vie: competing hard with others to win or get something.
Grammar: Almost always followed by for or with: vying for first place, vying with rivals.
Patterns
- vying for something
- vying with someone for something
- vying to do something
Three companies are vying for the city's biggest contract.
The two sisters were vying with each other for their father's attention.
Dozens of runners were vying to reach the top spot.
verbintransitive
Taking part in an eager contest, especially one with several sides, as a general ongoing situation.
Grammar: Often used as a participle to describe the group involved.
Patterns
- vying parties
- vying factions
Vying factions within the party blocked every reform.
The vying crowds pushed toward the stage.
Vying politicians crowded the debate stage.
Word forms
| base form | vie |
|---|---|
| third person singular | vies |
| past tense | vied |
| past participle | vied |
Common combinations
- vying for attention
- Three toddlers were vying for attention at the party.
- vying for the title
- Two teams are vying for the title this weekend.
- vying for control
- Rival groups were vying for control of the city.
- vying with each other
- The shops were vying with each other to offer the lowest price.
- vying for position
- Cyclists were vying for position at the bend.
Synonyms and how they differ
- competing
- Competing is the neutral, everyday word, while vying suggests eagerness and a close, active struggle.
- contending
- Contending is more formal and often describes a serious claim to a prize or position.
- jostling
- Jostling describes pushing for position physically or figuratively, which is rougher than vying.
- battling
- Battling suggests a harder, more aggressive fight than vying.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: vying or vying? vying or buying?
vying vs vying
Vying is easy to mix up with vying's rhyme-like words such as flying or dying, but the verb is vie, with vying as its -ing form.
vying vs buying
Buying sounds similar in some speech but means purchasing.
Practice
Several local bakeries are ____ for the title of best bread in town.
Choose one answer.
Vying for means competing eagerly to win. Trying for would be a weaker, less competitive wording, and buying and flying make no sense here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vying”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.