Meaning & Definition of word "Compete"

Compete

/kəmˈpiːt/

verb:

  • 1. To strive against others to achieve a goal, often in the context of sports or contests.
    • Example: The athletes will compete in the championship next month.
  • 2. To contend with someone or something in order to gain or win something.
    • Example: Several companies are competing to launch the latest smartphone.
  • 3. To be in a state of rivalry with others.
    • Example: She decided to compete in the academic tournament to showcase her knowledge.
  • 4. To have the capability to match or surpass.
    • Example: Their product may not compete well with higher-end brands.

Etymology

From Latin 'competere' meaning 'to strive together, meet, be suitable'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

to compete against:

To strive to win against someone.

compete for attention:

To seek to be noticed or considered more than others.

healthy competition:

A friendly form of competition that promotes improvement.

Related Words

competition:

The act of competing; rivalry for supremacy.

competitor:

A person or organization that competes against others.

competitive:

Relating to or characterized by competition.

Slang Meanings of compete

Meaning: Go head-to-head

Example Sentence: The two athletes are going head-to-head in the finals.

Meaning: Beat the competition

Example Sentence: Our goal is to beat the competition with our new product line.