# competing

/kəmˈpitɪŋ/ (US) · /kəmpˈiːtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/competing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. rival or conflicting

adjective · CEFR B2

describing different ideas, interests, or companies that are in a struggle with each other.

For teachers: describing entities or concepts that are in a state of competition or are mutually exclusive.

- The government has to balance the competing needs of the city and the countryside.
- The committee struggled to reconcile the competing interests of the environmental lobbyists and the industrial developers.

Usage: Commonly used before a noun to describe abstract concepts like 'needs', 'interests', or 'claims'.

## Examples

- Ten runners are competing in the race today.
- Local bakeries are competing for customers by offering lower prices and fresh morning deliveries.
- In a globalized economy, small businesses find themselves competing against massive corporations that benefit from economies of scale and established distribution networks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.