I competed with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I competed with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing participation in a competition or rivalry with someone or something. Example: "I competed with several talented athletes in the marathon last weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"I competed with 'Monday Night Football' for years," he said.

The New Yorker

"I competed with the bagpipes at the Highland games," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

"I competed with my children," he said, grimacing at the recollection.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I don't feel like I competed with them during the season, but in the postseason, I'm probably one of the guys they're measured against.

The New York Times - Sports

Once, in my early teens, I competed with my best friend Rob to see who could read more in the course of the summer vacation.

The New York Times - Books

"Many of the people at MediaPost, I competed with in the old days," said Joe Mandese, editor in chief at MediaPost, referring to his stints at publications like Ad Age.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"I compete with him".

The New York Times

How could I compete with that?

The New York Times - Travel

How on earth could I compete with this?

Independent

"How do I compete with that?" May 11, 2017.

The New Yorker

"I compete with Dave for ratings in my day job.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I competed with" when you want to express that you were in a contest or rivalry against another person, group, or entity. This can apply to sports, academics, business, or any other field where competition exists.

Common error

Avoid confusing "with" for other prepositions like "against" or "alongside" when using "I competed". While "against" emphasizes opposition, "with" correctly indicates the entity you were competing against, and "alongside" implies collaboration more than competition.

Linguistic Context

I competed with functions as a verb phrase indicating participation in a contest or rivalry. It describes the action of striving against someone or something to achieve a goal. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to express direct competition in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I competed with" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression indicating participation in a contest or rivalry. According to Ludwig, this phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English. While often found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various situations. When using the phrase, ensure that the preposition "with" is correctly employed to specify the entity against which the competition occurred. For alternative expressions, consider using phrases such as "I rivaled" or "I contended against".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I rivaled

Replaces "competed with" with a single verb implying a direct rivalry.

I contended against

Uses "contended against" to emphasize a struggle or effort in the competition.

I vied with

Employs "vied with" to suggest a more intense and ambitious competition.

I was in competition with

Adds a descriptive layer, focusing on the state of being in competition.

I pitted myself against

Implies a deliberate act of setting oneself up against another.

I measured myself against

Focuses on comparing one's abilities to those of another through competition.

I went head-to-head with

Highlights a direct, face-to-face confrontation or contest.

I challenged

Uses "challenged" to imply a direct invitation to compete or a questioning of someone's abilities.

I was up against

Indicates facing an opponent or challenge, often implying difficulty.

I locked horns with

Suggests a fierce and direct conflict or competition.

FAQs

How can I use "I competed with" in a sentence?

Use "I competed with" to show you were in a contest or rivalry against another person or entity. For example, "I competed with her for the leading role in the play".

What's a more formal way to say "I competed with"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "I rivaled" or "I contended against". These options convey a sense of formal rivalry.

Is it correct to say "I competed against" instead of "I competed with"?

While "I competed with" focuses on who you were in competition with, "I competed against" emphasizes the opposition. Both are correct but have slightly different nuances.

What does "I competed with" imply about the nature of the interaction?

It implies a contest or rivalry where individuals or entities are striving to achieve a goal, outperform each other or demonstrate superiority. It's about comparing performance in the same field or activity.