Competition Terminology

noun a violent confrontation or struggle

verb to come into violent conflict

• The clash between the two political parties resulted in heated debates during the parliamentary session.
• There was a clash between the fans of the rival football teams at the stadium last night.
• The clash between those two classmates was so intense, it was like watching a reality TV show.
• The clash of ideas in the boardroom led to a creative breakthrough for the company.

noun a person or thing that hangs from or projects out from a steep or overhanging surface

• The novel ended with a thrilling cliff hanger that left readers eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.
• I can't believe the season finale of that show ended on such a cliff hanger!
• The movie had me on the edge of my seat with that crazy cliff hanger ending.
• Her decision to quit her job without a backup plan was a real cliff hanger moment in her life.

verb to strive against others in order to win a competition or achieve a goal

• The two companies will compete for the government contract.
• I heard that the two teams will compete in the finals next week.
• I'm gonna compete in the talent show this weekend, wish me luck!
• In the world of business, you have to compete to stay ahead of the game.

verb to successfully overcome or defeat an enemy or obstacle

• The army set out to conquer the neighboring kingdom.
• I'm determined to conquer this video game level tonight.
• She's on a mission to conquer her fear of public speaking.
• With determination and hard work, you can conquer any challenge that comes your way.

noun a competition or rivalry between individuals or groups

verb to engage in a contest or competition

• The annual spelling bee contest is open to students in grades 3 through 8.
• Are you going to enter the photography contest at the county fair?
• I heard there's a dance contest happening downtown tonight - wanna go check it out?
• Life is a constant contest of overcoming obstacles and challenges.

verb To beat or hit repeatedly, to defeat decisively in a competition or contest

• The team was able to drub their opponents in the championship game.
• I heard that our soccer team is going to drub the other team this weekend.
• They really drubbed those guys in the basketball game last night.
• She always seems to drub her competition in any business venture.

noun a person who enters or takes part in a competition or contest

• The entrant must submit their application by the deadline.
• Hey, did you hear about the new entrant in our competition?
• That entrant really knows how to make an entrance!
• As an entrant in the job market, she had to stand out among the competition.

noun a position or ranking in a competition or contest that is above all others

adjective coming before all others in time or order

• She came in first place in the science fair competition.
• I can't believe I won first place in the talent show!
• I totally aced that exam and got first place!
• In her heart, he always held first place.

noun a thing given as a reward to the winner of a competition or race

adjective coming before all others in time or order; earliest; being the most prominent in a particular quality or category

• She was awarded first prize in the prestigious piano competition.
• He won first prize in the talent show last night.
• She totally snagged first prize in the art contest.
• Achieving your dreams is like winning first prize in life's competition.

noun a disorganized or unrestricted situation or event in which everyone may take part, especially a fight, discussion, or trading market

• The conference turned into a free-for-all when the keynote speaker failed to show up.
• The party became a free-for-all once the music started playing.
• The concert turned into a total free-for-all once the mosh pit started.
• The debate turned into a free-for-all as each candidate started attacking the others.

adjective showing skill or cleverness

adverb in a clever or skillful manner; easily

• The company handily exceeded their quarterly revenue target.
• She handily beat her opponent in the tennis match.
• He handily aced that test without even studying.
• The new software handily smooths out any glitches in the system.

noun a mention or acknowledgment of someone or something deserving of recognition or praise, typically given as an award or in a list of names

• The student received an honorable mention for his research paper at the academic conference.
• She got an honorable mention for her painting in the art exhibition.
• Dude, you totally deserve an honorable mention for that amazing skateboarding trick!
• Although she didn't win the award, being nominated was an honorable mention in itself.

noun a person or thing that loses or has lost something

adjective describing someone or something that is unsuccessful or inferior

• The contestant who received the lowest score was deemed the loser of the competition.
• You're such a loser for not coming to the party last night.
• Stop being a sore loser and accept defeat gracefully.
• She felt like a loser after failing her driving test for the third time.

noun a person or thing that is no longer in contention or competition

adjective not in contention or competition

• Due to his injury, he is now officially out of the running for the championship title.
• She didn't make the cut, so she's out of the running for the lead role.
• He didn't impress the coach, so he's totally out of the running for the starting position.
• After missing the deadline, his chances of winning the contract are now out of the running.

verb to be of higher rank or superior to someone or something else

• In the military hierarchy, generals outrank colonels.
• I think my sister outranks me in terms of popularity at school.
• No way, she totally outranks him in the coolness factor.
• Her determination to succeed outranks any obstacles in her way.

noun a thing given as a reward to the winner of a competition or in recognition of an achievement

verb none

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• She was awarded the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking research in medicine.
• He won first prize in the science fair for his impressive project.
• I heard she snagged the grand prize in the raffle at the school fundraiser.
• His promotion to manager was seen as a prize for his hard work and dedication to the company.

noun A person or thing that is next after the best in quality, achievement, or preference

adjective Next after the best, inferior only to the best

• Although she didn't win first place, she was proud to be recognized as the second best in the competition.
• He may not be the best player on the team, but he's definitely the second best.
• She's the bomb.com, but he's the second best.
• In a world of superheroes, he was considered the second best with his unique abilities.

noun a high-pitched sound or cry

verb to narrowly pass or succeed

preposition indicating the manner or means by which something is done

• The mouse managed to squeak by the cat without being noticed.
• I was able to squeak by the security guard and sneak into the concert.
• I barely squeaked by on the exam, but at least I passed.
• Despite the challenges, she was able to squeak by and make ends meet.

adjective exceeding or going beyond what is expected or usual

• The company's revenue growth has been surpassing expectations for the past few quarters.
• Her cooking skills are surpassing those of a professional chef.
• That new movie is surpassing all the others in terms of box office sales.
• His dedication to his craft is surpassing all boundaries and limitations.

verb competing eagerly with someone in order to achieve or do something

• The two candidates are vying for the position of mayor in the upcoming election.
• The siblings are vying for their parents' attention by showing off their achievements.
• The teams are vying for the championship title in a fierce competition.
• The companies are vying for market dominance by launching new and innovative products.

noun a successful result in a competition, game, or other endeavor

verb to be successful or victorious in a competition, game, or other endeavor

• The company was able to win the contract after months of negotiations.
• I finally won the game after many attempts.
• She totally won that argument with her clever comebacks.
• Sometimes it's more important to win hearts than competitions.

noun A sewing competition where contestants showcase their sewing skills and creativity.

• The annual sewing bee competition brings together talented seamstresses from all over the country.
• I'm thinking of joining the sewing bee at the community center, it sounds like a fun way to meet new people.
• My grandma is the queen bee of the sewing bee group in our neighborhood.
• The sewing bee of ideas among the team members led to a creative solution for the project.

noun a person or thing that wins or has won

verb to be victorious in a competition or contest

adjective describing the act of taking all, usually in a competitive context

• In a competition, the winner takes all the prizes and recognition.
• When it comes to this game, it's winner takes all, so give it your best shot!
• It's a winner take all situation, so make sure you come out on top.
• Life can sometimes feel like a winner take all scenario, where only the strongest survive.