compete

compete
verb (I)
1 PERSON/BUSINESS to try to be more successful than another person or organization, especially in business
(+ with): They found themselves competing with foreign companies for a share of the market. (+ for): She and her sister are always competing for attention. (+ against): businesses competing against each other | compete to do sth: Several advertising agencies are competing to get the contract. | can't compete (=be unable to compete, especially with something bigger or better): Small, independent bookstores simply can't compete with the big national chains.
2 IN A COMPETITION to take part in a competition or sporting event: How many runners will be competing in the marathon?
3 can't compete with sb/sth to not be as interesting, attractive etc as someone or something else: Melinda was plain and knew she couldn't compete with her sister where boys were concerned.
4 SOUND/SMELL (intransitive+ with) if a sound or smell competes with another sound or smell, you can hear/smell both equally well: The songs of the birds competed with the sound of the church bells.
5 IDEAS/ARGUMENTS if two ideas, arguments, claims etc compete with each other, they cannot both be right

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • compete — com‧pete [kəmˈpiːt] verb [intransitive] COMMERCE when one company or country competes with another, it tries to get people to buy its goods or services rather than those available from another company or country: • measures to enable Irish… …   Financial and business terms

  • compete — 1 Compete, contend, contest are comparable especially in their intransitive senses when they mean to strive to gain the mastery or upper hand. Compete (see also RIVAL) implies a struggle to overcome or get the better of in an activity requiring… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Compete — can refer to:*Competition the rivalry of two or more parties *Compete.com a web traffic analysis company *Compete America an industry trade group *Non compete clause a term used in contract law under which one party (usually an employee) agrees… …   Wikipedia

  • Compete — Com*pete , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Competed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Competing}.] [L. completere, competitum; com + petere to seek. See {Petition}.] To contend emulously; to seek or strive for the same thing, position, or reward for which another is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compete — I verb battle, be a candidate, be in the running, certare, challenge, clash, combat, contend, contest, cum homine contendere, duel, employ stratagem, encounter, engage in a contest, enter, enter competition, joust, match strength with, match wits …   Law dictionary

  • compete — 1610s, from M.Fr. compéter be in rivalry with (14c.), or directly from L.L. competere strive in common, in classical Latin to come together, agree, to be qualified, later, strive together, from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + petere to strive …   Etymology dictionary

  • compete — [v] go up against in contest attempt, bandy, battle, be in the running*, bid, challenge, clash, collide, contend, contest, cope with, emulate, encounter, essay, face, fence, fight, go after, go for*, go for broke*, go for the gold*, grapple, in… …   New thesaurus

  • compete — ► VERB ▪ strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others. ORIGIN Latin competere, from petere aim at, seek …   English terms dictionary

  • compete — [kəm pēt′] vi. competed, competing [L competere, to strive together for, be qualified < com , together + petere, to rush at, desire: see FEATHER] to enter into or be in rivalry; contend; vie (in a contest, athletic meet, etc.) …   English World dictionary

  • compete — com|pete W3S3 [kəmˈpi:t] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(business)¦ 2¦(person)¦ 3¦(in a competition)¦ 4 somebody/something can t compete with somebody/something ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Date: 1600 1700; : Late Latin; Origin: competere [i] to try (with others) to get , from Latin,… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • compete */*/*/ — UK [kəmˈpiːt] / US [kəmˈpɪt] verb [intransitive] Word forms compete : present tense I/you/we/they compete he/she/it competes present participle competing past tense competed past participle competed to try to be more successful than other… …   English dictionary

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