compete

Everyday

1. To compete means to try to win against others in a race, game or contest. tree →
2. To compete means to try to be more successful than others, for example shops competing for customers. tree →
3. In nature, living things compete for food, water, light and space. tree →

In the lessons

In sports and school, pupils compete in races, quizzes, spelling bees and sports day. In science lessons on habitats, animals and plants compete for resources. Phrases: compete in, compete against, compete for, compete with.

Examples

• Ten runners will compete in the race. tree →
• Our school competes against other schools in football. tree →
• Plants compete for sunlight. tree →
• Shops compete for customers by lowering prices. tree →
• She competed in the spelling bee. tree →
• It's more fun to compete fairly. tree →
• Birds compete for the best nesting places. tree →
• This was reported to the man who declared he would compete, ‘but,’ he said, ‘I shall let my servant run for me.’ tree →

Note

Regular verb: competed (drop e, add -ed), competing. Noun: competition; person: competitor; adjective: competitive. Compete in an event, against or with a person, for a prize.