heighten competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heighten competition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing ways to increase rivalry or competitiveness in a particular market or field. Example: "The new policies implemented by the government are expected to heighten competition among local businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

A RECORD number of drug patents will expire over the next few years, which should heighten competition from generic drugs and force down prices.

The Economist

Mr. Byrne added that the move had the chance to heighten competition in the F.P.G.A. market, is currently dominated by two companies: Xilinx and Altera.

The New York Times

The emergence of resort-style casinos, however, is also going to heighten competition for the V.I.P. business and change the face of the industry.

The New York Times

Matthew Andresen, the chief executive at Island, said the plan by Tradescape could heighten competition among electronic trading networks, some of which are petitioning to become full-fledged stock exchanges.

The New York Times

The move, intended to build anemic trading volume at MarketXT, which began its operation as an after-hours trading system in late 1999, could also heighten competition among the nation's biggest electronic trading networks, like Island ECN and Instinet, a unit of the Reuters Group.

The New York Times

"He can play in a few positions, has terrific experience of both the Premier League and the Championship and will heighten competition for places".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Laemmle has adapted to the heightened competition by expanding into less competitive regions, upgrading its theaters — including a $2-million 2-millionn to the renovation012 — and owning mostoof the locations wheRoyal operates.

Los Angeles Times

The one-child policy has heightened competition.

The New Yorker

Strong growth heightened competition and made lenders more confident, says William Ford of MIX.

The Economist

But digital photography, heightened competition and the weak economy have cut into sales.

The New York Times

The heightened competition could not come at a worse time for the stand-alone investment banks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heighten competition" when you want to convey that actions or events are increasing the intensity of rivalry between entities.

Common error

Avoid using "heighten competition" when the context requires a decrease or mitigation of competitive forces; consider alternative phrases like "reduce competition" or "lessen rivalry".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heighten competition" functions as a verb phrase where "heighten" acts as a transitive verb taking "competition" as its direct object. This describes the act of increasing or intensifying rivalry.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heighten competition" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that means to increase the intensity of rivalry. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While not exceedingly common, it appears primarily in news, business and encyclopedic contexts. Related phrases include "intensify competition" and "increase competition". When using this phrase, be mindful of contexts where decreasing competition might be more appropriate. The phrase carries a neutral to formal register and is effectively used to analyze factors leading to greater rivalry in various fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Intensify competition

Emphasizes a greater degree of rivalry or conflict in the competitive environment.

Increase competition

A more direct and straightforward way to express a rise in competitive activity.

Strengthen competition

Indicates reinforcing existing competitive forces.

Escalate competition

Suggests a rapid and potentially uncontrolled intensification of rivalry.

Amplify competition

Indicates a significant boost or expansion of competitive pressures.

Sharpen competition

Suggests making the competitive edge more acute or pronounced.

Fuel competition

Implies adding more resources or factors to stimulate competitive activities.

Exacerbate competition

Suggests making the competition even more bitter or severe.

Promote competition

Suggests encouraging or supporting competitive behavior.

Boost competitiveness

Focuses on improving the ability to compete effectively, rather than just intensifying rivalry.

FAQs

What does "heighten competition" mean?

The phrase "heighten competition" means to increase the intensity or degree of rivalry among businesses, individuals, or groups vying for the same resources or goals. It suggests that competition becomes more acute or pronounced.

How can I use "heighten competition" in a sentence?

You can use "heighten competition" to describe factors that intensify rivalry, such as "New technologies can "heighten competition" among companies in the tech industry" or "Deregulation may "heighten competition" among service providers".

What are some alternatives to "heighten competition"?

Alternatives to "heighten competition" include phrases like "intensify competition", "increase competition", or "sharpen competition". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "increase competition" or "heighten competition"?

Both "increase competition" and "heighten competition" are appropriate. "Increase competition" is more direct and straightforward, while "heighten competition" implies a more significant or noticeable intensification of rivalry. The better choice will depend on your desired level of emphasis.