kəmˈpēt, usu -ēd.+V intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin competere to come together, agree, be suitable, belong, compete for, from com- + petere to go to, head for, seek — more at feather
1. : to seek or strive for something (as a position, possession, reward) for which others are also contending : vie with another or others for or as if for a prize
compete with top-notch performers
a team that competes against other teams
compete for top honors
the children competed with one another in seeing who could eat the most
2.
a. : to stand comparison (as in fitness or value)
the steam locomotive could no longer compete with the diesel
b. : to come into rivalry especially in economic value, usefulness, or efficiency
rayon is seriously competing with wool in … fall and winter clothing — Desmond Reilly
Synonyms:
contend , contest : compete may indicate simply the fact of struggle to win out over others, or to continue to exist despite the strength and efforts of others, or it may be used in reference to organized contests
New Hampshire cannot compete with its neighboring State of Maine in raising potatoes — American Guide Series: N.H
the dinosaurs were unable to compete successfully with the smaller mammals
only at its best does the drama compete with the novel in finalities — Bernard De Veto
the teams competing in the tournament
contend may suggest vigorous striving and struggling against an equal or stronger adversary
a gray stone castle, for whose keep Bruces and Comyns and Macdowalls contended seven centuries ago — John Buchan
two Greek schools of thought, the Stoic and the Epicurean, contended for the allegiance of Romans who aspired to philosophy — Benjamin Farrington
the passions and hopes which he had excited had become too strong for him to contend against — J.A.Froude
contest is often a close synonym of compete; typically, it may apply to a struggle that is limited, bounded, and definite in outcome, as a debate, race, match, fight, or battle
New Orleans was … contesting with New York for first place among American ports — American Guide Series: Louisiana