competecom‧pete /kəmˈpiːt/ ●●● S3 W3 verb [intransitive] 
They found themselves competing with foreign companies for a share of the market. The Renault Clio competes against such cars as the Peugeot 206.compete for The stores have to compete for customers in the Christmas season.compete in The company must be able to compete in the international marketplace.compete to do something Several advertising agencies are competing to get the contract.can’t compete (with something) (=be unable to be more successful) Small independent bookstores simply can’t compete with the big national chains.2person to try to gain something and stop someone else from having it or having as much of itcompete for She and her sister are always competing for attention.compete against I had to compete against 19 other people for the job.compete with As a stepmother, don’t even try to compete with the children’s mother for their love.3in a competition to take part in a competition or sports eventcompete in/at How many runners will be competing in the marathon? Professional athletes may now compete at the Olympics.compete against He’ll be competing against the world’s best.► see thesaurus at participate4somebody/something can’t compete with somebody/something 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.GRAMMAR: Reciprocal verbsCompete is a reciprocal verb. This type of verb is used when saying that two or more people or groups do something that involves both or all of them: · We were competing for her attention. You can also say: · We were competing with each other for her attention.· I was competing with them for her attention.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS
WORD ORIGINcompete
Origin:
1600-1700 Late Latin competere ‘to try (with others) to get’, from Latin, ‘to come together, agree, be suitable’, from com- ( ➔ COM-) + petere ‘to go to, look for’VERB TABLE
compete
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | compete |
| he, she, it | competes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | competed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have competed |
| he, she, it | has competed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had competed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will compete |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have competed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am competing |
| he, she, it | is competing | |
| you, we, they | are competing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was competing |
| you, we, they | were competing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been competing |
| he, she, it | has been competing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been competing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be competing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been competing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Any child between the ages of 8 and 12 is allowed to compete.
- Athletes from 197 counties competed in the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
- Bailey has competed against athletes half his age and won.
- Children will always compete for their parents' attention.
- Fujitsu, Hitachi, and NEC are competing with US firms to build the world's fastest supercomputer.
- Nowadays we have to compete more and more with foreign companies.
- Small independent bookstores just can't compete with national chains and online retailers.
- The cities are competing against each other to attract and retain business.
- An educational game in which up to four players compete with animals for a set amount of food.
- But she hated having to compete when it was cold.
- But they do compete in advanced services like electronic mail and computer-data networks.
- But you've got to compete.
- Flocks of executives entered the company from competing firms, bringing different styles, values, and corporate cultures with them.
THESAURUS
formal to do an activity together with other people: · He always participates in classroom activities.· The people should have the right to participate in discussions about their future.· There are many ways people can participate in sports.· Who will be participating?
to participate in something. Take part is less formal that participate and is more common in everyday English: · Nearly 500 teams took part in the competition.· She was asked to take part in a TV debate on drugs.· Anyone who is over 18 can take part.
to take part in something in a useful way: · Everyone can play a part in improving the security of their neighborhood.· Schneider played a key role in getting the organization started.
to take part in an activity in some way: · He has denied being involved in the murder.· It was a big project and many people were involved.
to actively take part in the work of an organization such as a political group or church: · He is very active in the church’s work with homeless people.· She is no longer active in politics.
to take part in a competition or race: · Athletes from all over the world will be competing.· She’s hoping to compete in the Olympic Games.
Longman Language Activatorto try to do better than another person or organization to try to do better than another person or organization, for example in business or politics: compete with: · Nowadays we have to compete more and more with foreign companies.compete against: · The cities are competing against each other to attract and retain business.compete for (=in order to get something): · Children will always compete for their parents' attention.can't compete with somebody/something (=not have enough skill, money etc to compete with another person, company etc): · Small independent bookstores just can't compete with national chains and online retailers.compete to do something: · Fujitsu, Hitachi, and NEC are competing with US firms to build the world's fastest supercomputer.
to try extremely hard to get an important job or political position that other people are also trying to get: fight for: · If you want the job, you'll have to fight for it.fight somebody for something: · Williams fought several rivals for the leadership of the party.
written if two people, organizations etc vie with each other in order to do something, they compete in order to try to do it: vie for: · The two political factions are vying for control of the school board.vie with somebody for something: · Paris and Milan vie with each other for the title of world fashion capital.
to compete with someone in a fight or competition, especially someone who is stronger, more powerful etc than you: · The company had pitted itself against the giants of the computer industry in an attempt to increase its share of the market.pit your wits against somebody (=compete with someone in a test of knowledge): · On the quiz show ordinary people pit their wits against a panel of celebrities.
to take part in a competition, sports event etc · Any child between the ages of 8 and 12 is allowed to compete.compete in · Athletes from 197 countries competed in the Olympic Games in Atlanta.compete against · Bailey has competed against athletes half his age and won.
British: contest the final/the US Open/the election etc to compete in a sporting event or election - used especially in newspapers and television reports: · In 1991 White contested the US Open and the J G Scott Trophy.· The leadership election will be contested by four candidates.
a competition in which people try to run, drive, ride a horse, etc faster than other people in order to finish first: · It's a 10-kilometer race from downtown to the river.· the Breeder's Cup races at Churchill Downswin a race: · He's won three races in a row, using the same car and the same engine.qualify for a race (=to have run, driven etc fast enough to take part in a particular race): · Krystal has already qualified for the hundred-metre race in the Olympics next year.
to take part in a competition, exam, course etc to take part in a competition or race: · Only cars over 50 years old are allowed to compete.· The competition was a great success. Nearly two hundred people took part.compete/take part in: · How many runners will be competing in the marathon?· Please contact Debbie if you would like to take part in the charity swim.
also go in for something British to say that you will take part in a competition or race, for example by putting your name on a list: · Only students under 18 can enter.· Dad says he's going in for the talent contest.· Jay and Cindy entered the dance competition for fun - they had no idea they would win.· We went in for the crossword competition and won twenty-five pounds.
to arrange to take part in a course of study by signing an agreement: · Did you sign up yet? The course starts in two weeks, you know.sign up for: · Gary can't find a job, so he's signed up for Unemployment Training.sign up to do something: · I signed up to take an art class just to get out of the house in the evenings.
British /enroll American to formally arrange to take part in a course of study: · The course is very popular, so it's best to enrol as soon as possible.enrol onBritish /+ in American: · I'd like to enrol on the German course, please.· Bill enrolled in a four-year teacher-training course in Albany.enrol for British: · That year Sam enroled for law studies in Cape Town.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
(=be unable to be more successful) Small independent bookstores simply can’t compete with the big national chains.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Small independent bookstores simply can’t compete with the big national chains.· the competing claims of the political parties
· The band has competed in many contests over the years.
(also take part in a race)· He is competing in his first race this year.· Runners from all over the world will take part in the race.
(=do that sport in competitions)· She competed in various sports when she was young.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· These are good tactics: she is reinforcing actions that compete directly with unacceptable behaviours.· There never has been room in the consumer electronic marketplace for two directly competing, but incompatible, systems.· Gas is also competing directly with coal for the heavy fuel oil market.· The official unions will have to compete directly with Solidarity for members, so they want to land the first blows.· The A380 will compete directly with a stretched version of Boeing's 747.· The aim is also to carve out new market areas - like denim - which do not compete directly with rayon.· The trick is to ensure that there are no magazines represented which compete directly with each other.
· This effectively means that only the largest building societies, those with assets of 100m or more, can effectively compete.· The research therefore aims to investigate alternative strategies which are being adopted in order to compete effectively.· There is no market system that allows the teaching profession to compete effectively in the labor market for the best college graduates.· Certificates are one outcome of schooling and will enable the pupil to compete effectively in the labour market.
· The professional is for car hi-fi dealers to compete in and is a competition in its own right.· A number of Ulster riders will be competing in today's opening round of the Supercup series at Oulton Park.· Jessica and James Kernan are hoping to keep up with international successes and will be competing in tomorrow's Grand Prix.· Another is fast, world-wide commerce, giving the individual company a more flexible and uncertain market to compete in.· This year he has endeavoured to compete in as many Challenge Tour events as he can.
· Below mezzo-forte, 1 horn is sufficient to compete successfully with 1 trumpet or 1 trombone.· It also limits the ability of agency heads to compete successfully for high-skilled senior talent.· The ability to compete successfully at home and abroad is crucial to the economic well-being of all of us.· The big investors are taking huge risks in assessing what it will cost to compete successfully.· They can successfully compete with cinemas by charging one fifth of the admission price.· They really are extinct, but managed to compete successfully with the bivalves for a considerable time.
NOUN· The Yorkshire-born jockey broke his duck at Yarmouth in 1967 and has never once doubted his ability to compete with the best.· Such a mechanism could enhance our national ability to compete with other world class research communities.· Similarly, the ability to compete may arise from the use and disclosure of business secrets.· The ability to compete successfully at home and abroad is crucial to the economic well-being of all of us.· Only so, furthermore, will he have the ability to compete with his contemporaries in what is a world-wide competition.· Improved ability to compete with overseas competitors was also claimed.
· An estimated 200 million people will watch on television as more than 10, 000 athletes compete in 271 events.· But whereas amateur athletes often compete just for the privilege of winning, retailers compete for customers and profit.· The findings are strictly confidential and we do not know if these athletes were allowed to compete.· Every year races, such as the London, demonstrate how disabled and able-bodied athletes can compete side-by-side in the same competition.· Kenneth is a field athlete and competes nationally and internationally in javelin, shot and discus.
· Only she, of all the women, seemed not to be competing for his attention.· Very soon Margarett had young men in uniform sitting for portraits and amorous officers competing for her attention.· With so many companies competing for your attention it can be difficult deciding which is the one for you.· The painting competes for attention with the elaborate 6-ton chandelier.· Part of that has to do with the wider spectrum of entertainment competing for our attention.· Each one is a potential hypnotic and competes for the attention.· He no longer has to compete for my attention and he enjoys the mental release this has brought him.
· To enable small businesses to compete on equal terms with large organisations.· Most businesses will compete globally iD. a rapidly changing world.· Schools are businesses, competing for pupils and cash.
· The private sector must be given a fair chance to compete for local authority contracts.· The result: Less-connected candidates have a real chance of competing with their well-funded opponents.
· Saddled with debt, the company can not compete.· The company can not compete on price in the volume markets because of outdated equipment and small purchasing power.· During 1995, the Amex lost 28 companies to competing exchanges and delisted another 38 companies for financial and other problems.· Employing organisations within this sector are a mixture of local and international companies competing within a relatively static market.· Docherty said the companies will continue to compete with each other on telecommunications services they run over the joint network.· For those smaller plant bakery companies who can not compete in these volume stakes the choice is quite clear.· Wallace has argued that spam-mail ads makes it possible for small companies to compete with bigger ones.
· This was a team event, with 7 countries competing for a trophy named after Joan Scruton.· Only recently have workers in the formerly Communist countries started to compete with workers in the first world for jobs and wages.· This year, there are 14 countries competing.· Now Ernie's got a team of 6 and travels the country to compete on the national circuit.· Some 2,500 athletes from 72 Commonwealth countries will compete for medals in 17 different sports.· If poor countries want to compete, they must practically give their goods away.· More and more countries compete, as nations fragment: the bands at Atlanta need the music for 197 national anthems.
· Horses competing in long distance events should not use a brand which contains bicarbonate.· Many are older persons and have competed in numerous events.· NORTH-EAST swimmers are competing in three important events this weekend.· This is the last year Hulka will be eligible to compete in the event.· Their cars still compete in historic events.· An estimated 200 million people will watch on television as more than 10, 000 athletes compete in 271 events.· Over 850 people throughout Northern Ireland hold sports licences for the vehicles which allow them to compete in events.· The championships are being held through next Sunday at the San Jose Arena with more than 300 skaters competing in 19 events.
· Can the large firm in agriculture compete with the proverbial flexibility, in work and income, of the family farmer?· Suppose that the number of firms competing to produce a good in one country is smaller than the number in another.· There is a high cost in time and money for audit firms in competing in a change in auditors.· Numerous firms competed to supply markets at prices which none controlled.· The big firms are competing fiercely for mandates.· Banks pay the Fed for the service; a few private firms also compete for the business.· At that cost, even mid-sized firms can compete.· The two firms then competed to make it, year after year.
· It's vital that as the economy improves we find ways to enable long term unemployed people to compete positively for jobs.· In short, the baddest of the bad were competing for jobs.· The freeing of women from the imperatives of the reproductive cycle allows them also to compete for these top jobs.· But too many are from unqualified applicants competing for fewer job openings.· Outside California, no big city must compete for new jobs and businesses while hampered by such restrictions, McGrory said.
· All novices must compete at the amateur level for three races before qualifying for the professional category.· Newsome is just the sort of defender we need if we are to compete at the highest level.· The researchers found that when male monkeys compete, their testosterone levels rise.· I could have competed on an international level but I didn't have the patience coping with injuries and stuff.· I love when we compete at a high level.· The use of different divisions gave many more climbers the chance to experience the thrill of competing at their own level.· This win over Santa Clara has given her some hope that the team can actually compete at the level it needs to.
· Fighting occurs during the rut as males compete for dominance.· For example, males usually compete for access to females, rather than vice versa.· In general, then, males tend to compete with one another for females.· However, physical fighting is not the only means by which males compete with each other.
· Even the payment of players was regulated in such a way as to prevent clubs competing in a free market for talent.· Numerous firms competed to supply markets at prices which none controlled.· Unable to compete in the market, some of Microsoft's rivals have already sought refuge in antitrust law.· The second is the feeling of insecurity in the workplace as companies try to compete in the global market.· Apart from intense competition in the retail savings market, banks and building societies also compete strongly in the market for house finance.· To be sure, lots of histories compete for market share.· Businesses have to be very lean to compete in the international market.· The explosive growth of the online economy is forcing businesses of all sizes to compete in a global market.
· Relations between employees are even worse in companies where different teams are set to compete against each other in an internal market.· Docherty said the companies will continue to compete with each other on telecommunications services they run over the joint network.· Evolving software mimics biological evolution with collections of programs competing with each other to see which performs the task best.· Some associates of both men think it unlikely that Forbes and Kemp would compete against each other.· Different standards and approaches compete against each other.· Students compete not against each other, but against performance standards.· The pro championship will be replaced by an amateur event in which stunt novices compete against each other on their own bikes.
· An educational game in which up to four players compete with animals for a set amount of food.· Craig MacTavish retired last season as the last player to compete without a helmet-17 years all told.· Some 80 local table tennis players will be competing for 13 main titles.· Besides - he is one of several players i have to compete with and i take that as a challenge.· The biggest entry is for the handicap singles with 74 players competing.· So the main players compete by adding on other services.
· Gregory Ivanov, developer with Sapsan dealer Irbus, says no foreign company yet competes with Sapsan on price or customer support.· For a while, competing on price was doing very well.· The company can not compete on price in the volume markets because of outdated equipment and small purchasing power.· Even tiny firms of six men in dingy offices with low overheads were able to compete by slashing prices to the bone.· And that's what will be needed in order to compete with world sugar prices.· This means that, to compete, rail prices have to be pitched at these marginal costs.· Bidders would be guaranteed a public subsidy, but would have to compete on price and quality.
· For instance, what about all the companies that use Unix to build products that compete against Novell?· Computing is still a world made up of many technical directions, product implementations, and competing vendors.· Wars, hot and cold, were not the product of competing alliances but of conflicting ideologies.· A US$5,900 million development fund would be set up to help domestic industry modernize so that its products could compete with new imports.
· I am sure you will recall making the draw to decide which teams would compete in each semi-finals.· Relations between employees are even worse in companies where different teams are set to compete against each other in an internal market.· This win over Santa Clara has given her some hope that the team can actually compete at the level it needs to.· Local teams compete to raise money for a notable charity.· The charities to benefit have been nominated by the first three teams competing for the Clayton Trophy.· Why Oxford's speedway team won't be competing next year.
· It's the combination of academic and social learning that will help the pupils survive and compete in the seeing world.· She competed on five consecutive world championship teams, a previously unheard-of feat.· Such a mechanism could enhance our national ability to compete with other world class research communities.· So Ford must come out from under the fleet umbrella and make cars good enough to compete in the real world.· This summer he's off to compete in the world cup.· And that's what will be needed in order to compete with world sugar prices.
VERB· Only the firsts are allowed to return to compete for class placements.· Yet they fought allowing women to compete for opportunity in the select academies from which the leadership is so heavily drawn.· For these boats a sail which allows them to compete more evenly under handicap rules has obvious advantages.· Multiplayer games are also available, allowing viewers to compete against distant friends or relatives on the network.· In psychology, it allows it to compete on near-equal terms with a crowd of other sub-disciplines.· Consider what happened when New Zealand simply allowed one airline to compete with its state-owned line.· The findings are strictly confidential and we do not know if these athletes were allowed to compete.· It will allow foreign companies to compete in providing international telephone services, cellular phone service and access to satellites.
· Children themselves needed more visual encouragement to react to enable the book to compete with the attractions of video and television.· Within a few years the improved navigability of the river Don enabled them to compete even more successfully in distant markets.· To enable small businesses to compete on equal terms with large organisations.· This has enabled domestic markets to compete on a much more equal footing.· This enabled me still to compete in the Hammersmith and London Schools.· Certificates are one outcome of schooling and will enable the pupil to compete effectively in the labour market.
· The slump leaves the Government strapped for cash forcing National Savings to compete aggressively for money.· That would force system owners to compete head-to-head with other operators for half the business.· As National Health Service hospitals are forced to compete with each other for business they may begin to see other hospitals as competitors.· Now he saw the man of wealth forced to compete for his honors.· The aim has been to make purchasers much more prudent and to force providers to compete for business.
· It is a recognised indication of excellence which helps them compete with men in the early stages of their careers.· A recent investment boom should help firms to compete internationally, though in the short term it has worsened the trade deficit.· That should help it compete with rival sports tourers such as Aprilia's forthcoming ST1000.
· We don't need to compete like that.· And that's what will be needed in order to compete with world sugar prices.· Lawrie Smith won the Soling position without needing to compete in a match-race play-off.· Employers also need them in order to compete internationally.
· Mr Babangida and his predecessors have tried to meet competing ethnic demands by spreading power around regional governments in a federal system.· His main challenge now is to try to compete with a juggernaut.· The Romans did not try to compete in the sculptural and decorative field.· Whenever I tried to balance these competing goods in my mind, I thought of students like Tammy and Sabour.· And we've tried to compete, in the audience-grabbing sense, after 10 o'clock.· The second is the feeling of insecurity in the workplace as companies try to compete in the global market.· There are only a very few cars which try to compete with the Subaru and none quite makes the grade.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- Melinda knew she couldn't compete with her sister when it came to boys.
WORD FAMILYnouncompetitioncompetitorcompetitivenessadjectivecompetitive ≠ uncompetitivecompetingverbcompeteadverbcompetitively
1business if 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 countrycompete with/against They found themselves competing with foreign companies for a share of the market. The Renault Clio competes against such cars as the Peugeot 206.compete for The stores have to compete for customers in the Christmas season.compete in The company must be able to compete in the international marketplace.compete to do something Several advertising agencies are competing to get the contract.can’t compete (with something) (=be unable to be more successful) Small independent bookstores simply can’t compete with the big national chains.2person to try to gain something and stop someone else from having it or having as much of itcompete for She and her sister are always competing for attention.compete against I had to compete against 19 other people for the job.compete with As a stepmother, don’t even try to compete with the children’s mother for their love.3in a competition to take part in a competition or sports eventcompete in/at How many runners will be competing in the marathon? Professional athletes may now compete at the Olympics.compete against He’ll be competing against the world’s best.► see thesaurus at participate4somebody/something can’t compete with somebody/something 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.GRAMMAR: Reciprocal verbsCompete is a reciprocal verb. This type of verb is used when saying that two or more people or groups do something that involves both or all of them: · We were competing for her attention. You can also say: · We were competing with each other for her attention.· I was competing with them for her attention.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS