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

• 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

Hundreds of them were on hand this week to primp and pamper more than 2,500 cows competing at what is widely considered to be the Westminster Dog Show of the cattle world. —Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Beyond his music career, the 31-year-old rapper has embarked on a professional wrestling career, first appearing on WWE in 2021 and competing in several matches since. —Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025

Taylor Lautner also starred as a competing love interest who just so happens to be a werewolf. —Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025

In season 2, the boys also have powers, and Justin is training Billie, Roman and Milo to compete in the Family Wizard Competition. —Julia MacCary, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

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