competition
/kɒmpɪˈtɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
1The activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others: there is fierce competition between banks the competition for university places is greater than ever this year...
- The firm received $240,000 for its work, facing no competition for the contract.
- TV stations ought to refrain from excessive competition for ratings.
- Young wasn't aware of any tendering or competition for the contract.
Synonyms
rivalry, competitiveness, vying, contesting, opposition, contention, conflict, feuding, battling, fighting, struggling, strife, war
informal keeping up with the Joneses
1.1 [count noun] An event or contest in which people take part in order to establish superiority or supremacy in a particular area: a beauty competition...
- All team competitions were a round robin affair with each team playing the other once.
- There are levels of hospitality appropriate for different competitions and events.
- We all go to Sydney's events and competitions so she has all the support she needs.
Synonyms
contest, tournament, match, game, round, heat, fixture, event, meet, encounter;
race;
bout, fight, prizefight;
quiz;
trials, stakes;
British clash
1.2 [in singular] The person or people over whom one is attempting to establish one’s supremacy or superiority; the opposition: I walked round to check out the competition...
- The company works ruthlessly to destroy any competition before the competition even gets a chance to mount a challenge in the marketplace.
- Just be careful that you don't pan to the left or right to check out the competition.
- Some, outside Scottish football, underestimate the competition.
Synonyms
opposition, opposing side, other side, other team, field, enemy, foe;
challengers, opponents, rivals, opposers, adversaries, fellow contenders, fellow competitors
rare corrivals
1.3 Ecology Interaction between animal or plant species, or individual organisms, that are attempting to gain a share of a limited environmental resource: competition with ungulates or condylarths appears to have been the undoing of marsupials in North America...
- In prehistoric times, natural disasters and competition with other species were the main causes.
- Plant and animal competition is most marked on fertile soils of eutrophic forests and grasslands.
- In the present study, small individuals of this species died in competition with large ones in field trials.
Origin
Early 17th century: from late Latin competitio(n-) 'rivalry', from competere 'strive for' (see compete).