Meaning of competition In English

• 0 a situation in which someone is trying to win something or be more successful than someone else:

  • Competition for jobs is intense.

  • There's a lot of competition between computer companies.

  • The two companies are in competition with each other.

  • [ + to infinitive ] There's fierce competition to get into that school.

  • Foreign competition (= similar products from other countries) had reduced their sales.

  • Why are you jealous of her? She's no competition!

  • a swimming/chess competition

  • She's entered a crossword competition.

  • humorous You don't need to eat so quickly! It's not a competition.

  • The competition on the track looked fierce and her heart sank.

• 1 an activity done by a number of people or organizations, each of which is trying to do better than all of the others:

  • [ U ] Competition for the job was fierce.

  • [ U ] Traditional booksellers face stiff competition from companies selling via the Internet.

  • [ U ] In this business, we always have to be aware of the competition.

  • [ U ] Few of the players on the team were experienced in international competition.

  • [ C ] The figure-skating competition will be held in the main arena.

• 2 the situation in which people or businesses are trying to be more successful than each other, for example by making more sales in a market:

  • There has always been competition between the auto manufacturers.

  • stiff/fierce/strong/tough competition

  • Some healthy competition (= competition that is a good thing) makes everyone work harder.

  • The decision to sell cheap TVs put the supermarket in (direct) competition with the major suppliers of electrical goods.

  • foreign/global/ international competition

  • growing/increasing competition US companies face increasing competition from Eastern markets.

  • Politicians argued that subsidies stifled free competition.

  • Traditional banks face competition from internet-based finance companies.

  • Critics say merging the two largest manufacturers could stifle competition (= prevent competition).

• 3 the people or businesses who are competing with a particular person or business in a particular market:

  • Longer hours should give the store an advantage over the competition.

  • keep/stay ahead of the competition The company had to make drastic changes if it was to stay ahead of the competition.