become competitive with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become competitive with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of matching or surpassing others in terms of performance, quality, or market position. Example: "In order to thrive in the industry, we need to become competitive with our main rivals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Discusses various aspects of Mondale and how he might become competitive with Reagan.

The New Yorker

Since then, the company claims that its wait times in Manhattan have become competitive with Uber's.

The New Yorker

The constantly developing fluidized combustion technology has become competitive with a conventional pulverized coal (PC) combustion.

Particuology

As a result, Ethernet has become competitive with the main network techniques now used by the big telecommunications companies.

The New York Times

But the desire to keep filming is also driven by the cast themselves, who become competitive with other franchises.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Sanford C. Bernstein, a research firm, reckons that when costs drop below $200 a kWh, battery-powered cars start to become competitive with conventional ones without subsidies.

The Economist

These credits are necessary to attract new investment in renewable sources until they become competitive with cheaper, dirtier fuels like coal.

The New York Times

Indeed, market inefficiency has meant that returns on many busted convertibles have become competitive with returns on stocks, Ms. Cox added.

The New York Times

With a higher-rated show at 10 p.m., Mr. Griffin predicts that MSNBC can become competitive with Fox among young viewers.

The New York Times

Anyhow, major progress with cost reductions of one to two orders of magnitude is required for the space option to become competitive with terrestrial regenerative options.

Acta Astronautica

Absent a fresh approach, prospects for the weaker economies are grim — a grinding down of government budgets and private-sector wages in a perhaps vain effort to become competitive with Germany (what the Europeans euphemistically call "internal devaluations").

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "become competitive with", clearly specify what aspects are being compared (e.g., price, quality, features) to provide a concrete understanding of the competitive landscape.

Common error

Avoid using "become competitive with" without specifying a reference point. Instead of saying 'The company needs to become competitive', specify 'The company needs to "become competitive with" industry leaders in terms of innovation'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become competitive with" functions as a verb phrase expressing a process of change or improvement aimed at reaching a similar or superior level of competition. As shown in Ludwig, it often describes companies or technologies striving to match established benchmarks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "become competitive with" is a versatile and commonly used expression that signifies striving to match or surpass others in a particular domain. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely employed across diverse fields, including technology, business, and politics. To effectively use the phrase, clearly specify the aspect of competition and the entity being compared to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "match the competition" or "rival others" can be used for variety, but "become competitive with" remains a direct and widely understood option. Its prevalence in reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Economist underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compete effectively with

Emphasizes effective competition and success.

match the competition

Focuses on equaling the performance of competitors.

rival others

Implies striving to surpass competitors.

attain parity with

Highlights achieving a state of equality or equivalence.

be on par with

Expresses being at the same level or standard.

measure up to

Indicates meeting a certain standard or expectation.

equalize with

Suggests making something equal to something else.

gain an edge over

Highlights getting an advantage over competitors.

vie with

Implies actively competing for something.

challenge the dominance of

Focuses on contesting the leading position of another.

FAQs

How can I use "become competitive with" in a sentence?

You can use "become competitive with" to describe a process of improvement or change aimed at matching or surpassing rivals, as in 'The new strategy aims to help the company "become competitive with" its main competitors'.

What phrases can I use instead of "become competitive with"?

Alternatives include "match the competition", "rival others", or "attain parity with" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "become competitive with" or "be competitive to"?

"Become competitive with" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Be competitive to" is grammatically incorrect. Use "become competitive with" to indicate that something is in the process of reaching a competitive level.

What does it mean when something "becomes competitive with" something else?

It means that the first thing is improving or changing in such a way that it can effectively compete or is reaching a level of performance similar to the second thing. It implies that a performance gap is closing or has closed.