- 1 [intransitive] to try to be more successful or better than somebody else who is trying to do the same as you compete (with/against somebody) (for something) Several companies are competing for the contract. We can't compete with them on price. Young children will usually compete for their mother's attention. Small traders cannot compete in the face of cheap foreign imports. compete to do something There are too many magazines competing to attract readers. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbeffectively, successfully, directly, … verb + competecannot prepositionagainst, for, in, … See full entry See related entries: Economy
- 2 [intransitive] compete (in something) (against somebody) to take part in a contest or game He's hoping to compete in the London marathon. Wordfindersportathlete, champion, compete, fixture, match, record, spectator, sport, stadium, tournament Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbeffectively, successfully, directly, … verb + competecannot prepositionagainst, for, in, … See full entry Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Latin competere, in its late sense ‘strive or contend for (something)’, from com- ‘together’ + petere ‘aim at, seek’.Extra examples He regularly competes in races. He welcomed the chance to compete against professional athletes. Small independent bookshops can’t compete with the large stores. The big companies are competing fiercely on price. The company is prepared to compete head-to-head with the market giants. The price must be right in order to compete internationally. Their products compete directly with ours. We have to compete with several larger companies. a readiness to compete actively in the global system Colleges will have to compete to attract the best students. He’s hoping to compete in the London marathon. In archery people in wheelchairs can compete on equal terms with the able-bodied. Several projects are competing against each other for scarce resources. They are simply not able to compete successfully in the international market. Young children will usually compete for their mother’s attention.
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BrE BrE//kəmˈpiːt//; NAmE NAmE//kəmˈpiːt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they compete BrE BrE//kəmˈpiːt//; NAmE NAmE//kəmˈpiːt//
he / she / it competes BrE BrE//kəmˈpiːts//; NAmE NAmE//kəmˈpiːts//
past simple competed BrE BrE//kəmˈpiːtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//kəmˈpiːtɪd//
past participle competed BrE BrE//kəmˈpiːtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//kəmˈpiːtɪd//
-ing form competing BrE BrE//kəmˈpiːtɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//kəmˈpiːtɪŋ//
EconomyCheck pronunciation: compete
