competition - Master This Word

competition Word Meanings

• the act of competing
• a contest between rivals
• an event where individuals compete for a prize

competition Example Sentences

Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.

• The competition was fun.
• She won the art competition.
• They are ready for the competition.
• The competition is on Saturday.
• He likes to watch the cooking competition.

competition Word Etymology

com- = together + petere = to seek. Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Imagine two athletes at the starting line, preparing to race, both seeking victory together in the spirit of competition.

English Brain Route

I lean into the starting line, my breath tight as I move my feet and shift my weight forward. A quick glance tells me where to push, where to pull, and how to adjust my pace to stay in the race. The distance tightens as rivals surge and fade, and I hold my line, deciding when to accelerate and when to ease off. By the finish, the plan becomes a feeling, and I keep chasing the sense of competition through action.

Real Context

Competition is the act of striving to win or excel against others, often in a structured setting such as a race, exam, or sport, but it can also appear in everyday life when people try to outdo each other. It involves goal setting, comparing performance, and responding to rivals with effort and strategy. The word emphasizes shared effort toward a prize or recognition while also highlighting fair play and rules. In English, competition can describe both the process of challenging others and the event where such challenges take place, and it can carry positive connotations of motivation or negative ones of rivalry depending on tone.

Usage Reminders

• Remember that competition can refer to both process and event.
• Use 'healthy competition' to describe constructive rivalry and fair play.
• Pair with adjectives such as 'fierce', 'friendly', or 'intense' depending on the context.
• Often you compete for a prize, title, or recognition.
• Don't assume competition always means conflict; it can motivate improvement when rules are fair.

Common Misconceptions

• Competition is always hostility or conflict.
• Competition only happens in sports.
• Winning is required for competition to exist.
• Competition is the same as rivalry or aggression.
• If you lose, you failed at competition.

Thinking Differences

In English, competition often foregrounds both the process (preparation, practice, rules) and the event (the race, match, or contest) and can carry positive or negative tones depending on context. Learners may overemphasize victory or conflate competition with conflict. Emphasize fair play, goals, and outcomes.

Learning Tips

• Learn the difference between competition (process) and contest (event).
• Use 'healthy competition' for constructive, fair rivalry.
• Pair with adjectives like 'fierce', 'friendly', or 'intense' to set tone.
• Note common collocations: 'competition for a prize', 'in a competition'.
• Differentiate 'competitive' (adj) and 'competitiveness' (n).
• Recognize that competition can motivate improvement, not just win.

5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English

Related Listening

🔥 Advanced

🔥 Advanced

Harvest Lantern Festival in Riverford

Culture & Festivals

2026.01.24 · 1:28 · B1 · IELTS

Listen Now