compete

compete 1 Compete, contend, contest are comparable especially in their intransitive senses when they mean to strive to gain the mastery or upper hand.

Compete (see also RIVAL) implies a struggle to overcome or get the better of in an activity requiring two or more participants and involving rivalry (as an athletic match or a debate); the term may sometimes connote an additional incentive or inducement (as a prize or reward)

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the two classes competed in a spelling bee

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compete for places on the football team

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there were several boys anxious to compete for the scholarship

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Contend, which may suggest a straining or stretching (see CONTEND), usually implies opposition that has equal or better chances of succeeding and therefore a vigorous endeavor to win or to attain or to down or to frustrate; the term usually connotes competition, but it stresses the need of fighting or struggling

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strength of shade contends with strength of light— Pope

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the passions and hopes which he had excited had become too strong for him to contend against— Froude

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forced to contend with an army that outnumbered them

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Contest usually implies a competing but, since the word may be qualified with respect to the way in which the rivalry manifests itself, it often suggests a contending. The term may be used in reference to a debate, dispute, or controversy, a race or an athletic competition, or a physical fight or struggle but it invariably involves the idea of proving one's mastery or superiority

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the election for the office of district attorney was hotly contested

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the rivals contested lukewarmly for the crown

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Analogous words: battle, fight (see CONTEND): *rival, vie: oppose, combat, withstand (see RESIST)

2 vie, *rival, emulate

Analogous words: *contend, fight: *match, rival, approach, equal, touch