compete

verb

To be in battle or in a rivalry with another for the same thing, position, or reward; to contend.

To take part in a contest, game or similar event.

To strive to achieve or obtain something which another also strives for, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

To be in a position in which it is possible to win or triumph.

Roots

petopet- · Latin · seek, strive

Synonyms for compete

viev contendv contestn rivaln joustn challengen fightn matchv battlen

Synonyms & related words for compete

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of compete — including vie, contend, contest, rival, joust, challenge. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to compete

Explore words related to compete — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include competition, vying, competitive, corrival, competitor, competitively, uncompetitive, wins. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for compete

Common synonyms for compete include vie, contend, contest, rival, joust, challenge, fight, match — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does compete come from?

The word compete breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pet-, from Latin peto (“seek, strive”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.