What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
compete
Example
The athletes will compete in the upcoming tournament. [compete: verb]
Example
I don't want to compete with my colleagues for the promotion. [compete: verb]
contest
Example
The spelling contest was held at the school yesterday. [contest: noun]
Example
She won the singing contest last year. [contest: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Compete is more commonly used than contest in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between compete and contest?
Contest has a more formal and serious connotation, while compete can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
