vying

Vying is the act of contending or competing eagerly for a desired outcome, such as a position, prize, or advantage. It is the present participle form of the verb vie, used to describe ongoing or active competition.

Vying is commonly followed by for or with. Examples include: “Several teams are vying for the championship,” which indicates competition for a prize, and “Two companies are vying with each other for market leadership,” which describes rival firms competing directly. The construction “vying to” is also common, as in “candidates vying to become party leader.”

In usage, vying is typically found in formal or news reporting as well as in everyday speech. It conveys a sense of effort, rivalry, and strategic contest rather than outright hostility. While closely related to other terms such as compete, contend, or rival, vying often carries a nuance of ongoing, active striving over a defined objective.

See also: competition, rivalry, contest, contend.