Synonyms and antonyms of To compete, or to try to win in American Thesaurus

compete (verb)

to try to win a competition

vie (verb)

to compete with other people for something that is difficult to get

contend (verb)

to compete against someone, for example for a victory or for power

battle (verb)

to compete with someone, or to try to achieve the opposite of what they are trying to achieve

fight (verb)

to compete in order to win something or get something

jostle (verb)

to compete for something

combat (verb)

very formal to fight an enemy or opponent

take on ()

to fight or compete against someone

challenge (verb)

to invite someone to compete or fight

hold on ()

to keep trying to win or succeed

do battle ()

to argue with or fight against a difficult opponent, official system, etc.

draw level ()

to become equal to someone in a competition when they had previously been winning

face off (informal)

informal if people or groups face off, they compete or fight with each other

get through to ()

to go forward to the next stage of a process, for example a competition, because you have succeeded in the previous stage

give someone a (good) run for their money ()

to compete very well against someone so that it is hard for them to defeat you

go the (full) distance ()

to compete in a race or game until the end, continuing to try to win

jockey (verb)

to try to gain an advantage over your opponents, or to get something that other people are trying to get

joust (verb)

to argue or compete

keep up with the Joneses ()

to try to be as rich, successful, etc. as your neighbors

mix it up with someone ()

to compete with someone

move/close/go in for the kill ()

to prepare to destroy or defeat someone or something

nip at someone’s heels ()

to be almost as good as someone that you are competing with

pit against ()

to make someone compete or fight against someone or something else

pit against ()

if you pit your skills, knowledge, or ability against someone, you use all your skill in order to deal successfully or compete with them

pitch against ()

to make someone fight or compete against someone else

play hardball (American)

American to use any methods to defeat someone, even unfair or dishonest ones

square off (American)

American if two people square off, they prepare to start competing or fighting with each other

struggle (verb)

to try very hard to defeat someone or to stop them having power over you

take the gloves off ()

to start fighting or competing hard in order to achieve something. When this happens, you can say “the gloves are off.”