# competition

/ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən/ (US) · /kˌɒmpətˈɪʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. an organized event

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

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

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- There is a lot of competition between the two local coffee shops.
- Fierce competition in the smartphone market has forced manufacturers to innovate rapidly while keeping prices relatively stable for consumers.

Usage: Usually an uncountable noun.

### 3. the rivals

noun · CEFR B2

the people or companies that you are competing against.

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

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

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

## Examples

- She won first prize in the swimming competition.
- The local bakery faces stiff competition from the new supermarket that opened across the street.
- In a free market, healthy competition between firms is expected to drive innovation and lower prices for the average consumer, though it can also lead to aggressive cost-cutting measures.

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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.