What does "competition" mean?

1. (an organized event) an event or contest where people try to win a prize by being the best. 2. (the act of competing) the activity of trying to be more successful than someone else. 3. (the rivals) the people or companies that you are competing against.

How do you use "competition"?

Usually a countable noun. Usually an uncountable noun. Used as a collective noun, often with 'the'.

competition

US //ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən// UK //kˌɒmpətˈɪʃən// com·pe·ti·tion

1 an organized event (n.)
A2 Elementary

an event or contest where people try to win a prize by being the best.

a specific organized event or contest in which participants strive for a prize, award, or ranking.

Example

She won first place in the school photography competition last year.

Example

The international architecture competition attracted entries from over fifty countries, each vying for the chance to design the new city library.

Usage

Usually a countable noun.
2 the act of competing (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the activity of trying to be more successful than someone else.

the abstract process or state of rivalry between individuals, groups, or businesses for success or resources.

Example

There is a lot of competition between the two local coffee shops.

Example

Fierce competition in the smartphone market has forced manufacturers to innovate rapidly while keeping prices relatively stable for consumers.

Usage

Usually an uncountable noun.
- rivalry
- contention
- cooperation
- collaboration

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3 the rivals (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the people or companies that you are competing against.

the collective group of competitors or rivals within a specific field or market.

Example

We need to lower our prices because the competition is very strong.

Example

By analyzing the competition, the startup identified a gap in the market that the larger corporations had completely overlooked.

Usage

Used as a collective noun, often with 'the'.

Teacher's tip

In British English, this collective noun can take a plural verb (e.g., 'the competition are strong'), whereas American English prefers the singular.

Origin

Borrowed from French compétition, from Late Latin competītiō, competītiōnem, from Latin competō, from con- + petō. By surface analysis, compete + -ition.