What does compete mean?
To compete is to strive to win or achieve something while others are striving for the same goal, whether by outperforming opponents in sport, contending for customers in business, or vying for limited opportunities such as jobs, scholarships, or contracts. The verb typically pairs with prepositions that clarify the contest: one competes 'against' or 'with' a rival and competes 'for' a prize or reward. Compete can describe direct head-to-head contests — athletes competing in a final — as well as broader struggles among many parties, as when firms compete in a crowded marketplace. The word carries connotations of effort, ambition, and rivalry, though not necessarily hostility; competitors may respect one another deeply. Its related forms — competition, competitor, competitive — make it central to discussions of sport, economics, and human ambition generally.
verbTo strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others; to take part in a contest or competition.
- To strive against others to win or gain something (e.g. a prize, market share, advantage).
- To take part in a contest, competition, or sporting event.
"Athletes from over sixty nations will compete in the championships this summer."
"Several companies are competing for the same government contract."
"She competed at the Olympic trials but narrowly missed qualifying."
The ancient Romans used 'competere' to mean 'to come together, meet, coincide' — the very word we now use for rivals clashing once meant things converging peacefully.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of compete
Compete derives from the Latin verb 'competere', formed from 'com-' (together) and 'petere' (to seek, strive after). Originally meaning 'to come together, meet, or coincide', it later developed the sense of striving after something in common with others. The English verb entered usage in the early seventeenth century and its competitive sense became established thereafter. Cognates sharing the Latin root include competence, competition, and competitor.
Related word forms
How compete is actually used
Compete is usually followed by 'with', 'against', or 'for': you compete 'with' or 'against' an opponent and compete 'for' a prize or goal. It is standard in both formal and everyday registers. In business contexts it often appears in phrases like 'compete on price'.
Easily confused with compete
Though they share a similar sound and Latin-adjacent spelling pattern, 'compete' means to contend with others, while 'complete' means to finish or make whole.