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| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Language: | Late Latin |
| Origin: | competere 'to try (with others) to get', from Latin, 'to come together, agree, be suitable', from com- ( COM-) + petere 'to go to, look for' |
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com‧pete S3 W3
[intransitive]
[intransitive]1 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 country [↪ competition, competitor, competitive]
business
compete 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.
They found themselves competing with foreign companies for a share of the market.The Renault Clio competes against such cars as the Peugeot 206. can't compete (with something) (=be unable to be more successful) Small, independent bookstores simply can't compete with the big national chains.
Small, independent bookstores simply can't compete with the big national chains.2 to try to gain something and stop someone else from having it or having as much of it [↪ competition, competitive]
person
compete for She and her sister are always competing for attention.
She and her sister are always competing for attention.3 to take part in a competition or sports event [↪ competitor]
in a competition
compete in/at How many runners will be competing in the marathon? Professional athletes may now compete at the Olympics.
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.
He'll be competing against the world's best.4 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.
somebody/something can't compete with somebody/something
Melinda was plain and knew she couldn't compete with her sister where boys were concerned.