competing

adjective

com·​pet·​ing kəm-ˈpē-tiŋ How to pronounce competing (audio)
: in a state of rivalry or competition (as for position, profit, or a prize)
the competing teams/athletes
researched competing companies/products
They received several competing offers/bids.
their competing claims to the territory
She had many competing demands on her time.
… money is needed for social programs, health care, the environment and myriad other competing interests.Gloria Galloway
Using themselves, and 30 other pairs of identical twins as subjects, the two set out to test competing theories …Alison Rowat

Examples of competing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even when competing countries seem to abandon diplomacy, the institution remains a place where adversaries can hash out their differences and find opportunities to cooperate. Richard Gowan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2023 Their attention is not only on auctioneers but on the banks of telephone bid-takers who drive the nightly drama, advising their clients from London to Hong Kong to Doha when competing bids are received. Carol Vogel, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2023 Linnaeus’s great insight was that this method was trying to accomplish two separate and competing aims: precise description and clear identification. Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023 Because both sides make competing claims, there is no generally agreed upon border, only a Line of Actual Control that marks the general status quo, manned and patrolled by soldiers of both sides. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023 In 1939, as World War II began, the Jewish community of Palestine faced simultaneous and competing challenges from Europe and at home. Ruth R. Wisse, wsj.com, 3 May 2023 Analysts underlined the various and competing factors involved in the decision over the Yeezy stock. Melissa Eddy, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2023 Afterward, according to Bishop, Speedway coach Nick Beard said a non-competing Pike athlete (not in the race) went onto the track and interfered with a Speedway runner. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 25 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'competing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of competing was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near competing

Cite this Entry

“Competing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/competing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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