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

There are now several autonomous boat startups that have popped up to compete in the market, including Blue Water Autonomy. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025

After his short stint with the Vikings, Jones signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Colts to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback job. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025

Alcaraz isn’t competing all that hard in that race either. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

Hundreds of swimmers recently competed in swim races in the city’s river for the first time in nearly a century. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 9 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