compete

verb

com·​pete kəm-ˈpēt How to pronounce compete (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then the Fire, in an independent Central Hockey League, competed at the Fort Worth Convention Center from 1992 to 1999. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025 Photo of the day: The relief of sticking the landing Team USA star Jordan Chiles and the UCLA Bruins will compete for an NCAA title Saturday after advancing out of their semifinal session at the 2025 gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025 With their second-place finish, Coach Janelle McDonald’s team will compete for its first title since 2018, just a month after winning its first Big Ten title. Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025 In addition to the teams that advanced to the finals, select competitors from other schools will compete in the individual finals despite their teams not advancing. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for compete

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of compete was in 1620

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compete. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

compete

verb
com·​pete kəm-ˈpēt How to pronounce compete (audio)
competed; competing
: to strive for something (as a prize or reward) for which another is also striving : contest

More from Merriam-Webster on compete

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