1. strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same: "universities are competing for applicants"Similartake partplaybe a contestantbe a competitorparticipatebe involvedget involvedengageentergo in forinformal:throw one's hat in the ringbe in the runningcontendviefightbattleclashtusslegrapplewrestlewranglejockeywage warcross swordslock hornsgo head to headstrive againststruggle againstpit oneself againstchallengetake ontry to beatinformal:pitch oneself against
▪ take part in a contest:"he competed in numerous track meets as a child"Similartake partplaybe a contestantbe a competitorparticipatebe involvedget involvedengageentergo in forinformal:throw one's hat in the ringbe in the running
Word Originearly 17th century: from Latin competere, in its late sense ‘strive or contend for (something)’, from com- ‘together’ + petere ‘aim at, seek’.
