Cool MateCompete vs Contend vs Match
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Compete
Contend
Match
| Compete | Contend | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kəmˈpiːt//🇺🇸 //kəmˈpiːt// | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtend/","/kənˈtendz/","/kənˈtendɪd/","/kənˈtendɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtend/","/kənˈtendz/","/kənˈtendɪd/","/kənˈtendɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/mætʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/mætʃ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To try to win against others. | to compete or argue for something | To be the same as something else or to go well together. |
| Example | Many schools compete in the annual science fair. | I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point. | I watched the football match on TV last night. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | noun |
| Collocations | compete for attention, compete in sports, compete with rivals | contend that, contend for, contend with, contend against, strongly contend | boxing, chess, football, play, have, go to, take place, during a/the match, in a/the match, match against, excellent, good, perfect, find, make, match between, match for, meet your match, the right match, excellent, good, perfect, find, make, match between, match for, meet your match, the right match, exact, find, match for, lighted, lit, book, box, light, strike, blow out, put a match to something |
| Antonyms | cooperate, assist | yield, accept, relinquish | mismatch, disagree |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'compete against' vs 'compete with'., Incorrect verb tense, e.g., saying 'competed' when 'competes' is needed., Omitting the object after 'compete'. | Confused with 'content' in writing contexts., Using 'contend' without an object (e.g., 'I contend' should be followed by a statement)., Incorrectly using 'contend' as a synonym for 'understand'. | Confusing with 'mismatch' when talking about differences., Using 'matches' as a verb incorrectly in past tense without context., Using 'match' as a noun without proper context can be confusing. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in sports and business contexts. Avoid using in very formal settings without context. | Use 'contend' largely in formal settings, such as academic writing or debates. Avoid using it in casual conversation, where simpler words like 'argue' might be more appropriate. | Use 'match' when comparing items, like colors or styles. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where 'correspond' might be better. |
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Frequently asked questions: Compete vs Contend vs Match
What's the difference between Compete, Contend, and Match?
Compete: To try to win against others. Contend: to compete or argue for something Match: To be the same as something else or to go well together.
Which is more formal: Compete, Contend, and Match?
Contend is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Compete, Contend, and Match?
Match is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Compete, Contend, and Match?
Contend is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Compete, Contend, and Match the same CEFR level?
Compete: A2, Contend: C1, Match: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Compete, Contend, and Match?
Compete: verb, Contend: verb, Match: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Compete: Many schools compete in the annual science fair. Contend: I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point. Match: I watched the football match on TV last night.
Can I use Compete, Contend, and Match interchangeably?
Not always. Compete, Contend, and Match are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.