compete

verb

com·​pete kəm-ˈpēt 

competed; competing

intransitive verb

: to strive consciously or unconsciously for an objective (such as position, profit, or a prize) : be in a state of rivalry

competing teams

companies competing for customers

Synonyms of compete

• contend
• race
• fight
• battle

Examples of compete in a Sentence

Thousands of applicants are competing for the same job.

She competed against students from around the country.

We are competing with companies that are twice our size.

Did you compete in the track meet on Saturday?

The radio and the television were both on, competing for our attention.

Recent Examples on the Web

Davis was with Johnson in Detroit earlier in his career and is competing to be the final wideout on the roster. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

By the time the snowfall melts, Rukumba is no longer a community but a collection of competing interests each convinced the miracle belongs to them. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026

In qualifying, the two-time reigning Olympic champion looked fully recovered from a thigh issue that forced him to stop competing at the London Diamond League meet one month ago. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

The track star duo is set to compete together for the first time this fall as they’re both set to attend and run for Herget Middle School in Aurora. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin competere to seek together, from Latin, to come together, agree, be suitable, from com- + petere to go to, seek — more at feather

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing compete

• can't compete

Rhymes for compete

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete
• crabmeat

Kids Definition

compete

verb

com·​pete kəm-ˈpēt 

competed; competing

: to strive for something (as a prize or reward) for which another is also striving : contest