vying
C1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
Competing eagerly or strongly with someone for something.
Engaging in rivalry or contest; striving to outdo others in achievement, recognition, or possession.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Present participle of 'vie'. Implies active, ongoing competition, often with multiple participants. Carries a sense of determined effort rather than casual participation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both varieties; often used in written contexts like news, reports, and formal speech.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English, with similar frequency patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] is vying for [object][subject] is vying with [competitor] for [object][subject] is vying to [infinitive]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “vying for the crown”
- “vying for top dog”
- “in a vying match”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe companies competing for market share, contracts, or talent.
Academic
Appears in political science, economics, and sociology texts discussing competition for resources or influence.
Everyday
Describes siblings competing for parental attention, friends vying for a promotion, or teams in sports.
Technical
Rare in highly technical fields; more common in strategic analysis or competitive intelligence contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Several firms are vying for the government contract.
- The athletes have been vying for a place in the finals for months.
American English
- Tech companies are vying to hire the best engineers.
- The two candidates are vying for the same promotion.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
American English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
adjective
British English
- The vying factions could not reach an agreement.
- In the vying crowds, she spotted her friend.
American English
- The vying teams created an exciting atmosphere.
- Amid the vying proposals, hers stood out.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children were vying for their mother's attention.
- Two players are vying for the championship title.
- Several companies are vying for dominance in the electric vehicle market.
- The politicians have been vying with each other for media coverage.
- The research teams are vying to secure funding from the same grant body.
- Throughout the 19th century, European powers were constantly vying for colonial territories.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'vying' as 'vying' for a 'pie' – everyone wants a slice, so they compete eagerly.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS A RACE / COMPETITION IS WAR (e.g., vying for the lead, vying for dominance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'соперничать' in all contexts – 'vying' is more active and continuous. Don't confuse with 'борьба' (struggle), which implies more conflict.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'vying' without 'for' or 'with' (e.g., 'They are vying the prize' – incorrect). Confusing 'vying' with 'vying' as a noun (it's only a verb/adjective).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition most commonly follows 'vying' when indicating the object of competition?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'vying' is the present participle and can be used in continuous tenses (e.g., 'They were vying') or as an adjective. The base verb 'vie' is used in other tenses.
Yes, though it often implies earnest or determined effort, it can describe friendly rivalry, e.g., 'friends vying for the highest score'.
'Vying' suggests more active, eager, and often direct rivalry, while 'competing' is broader and more neutral.
It is more common in written or formal spoken English (news, reports). In casual conversation, 'competing' or 'trying to get' are often used instead.
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