Vying

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈvaɪ.ɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Competing with others in a determined effort to attain a particular objective or recognition
2. Engaging in a struggle against rivals to gain superiority or a desired outcome
3. Striving eagerly against others to secure a prize or position

Etymology: "Vying" is the present participle of "vie", and "vie" is a shortened form of "envie", an Old French verb meaning "to challenge" or "to invite". The shortening came from the old sport of wagering: a player could "envie" a stake, raising the bet, and the core idea of rivalry for an advantage has stayed with the word ever since. The Old French verb traces back to Latin "invitare", "to invite", which is also the source of English "invite". So "vie" and "invite" are distant relatives, sharing a root that once meant calling someone forward to a contest. The notion of a challenge issued to a rival is the thread linking the Latin invitation to the modern sense of competing eagerly.

Synonyms: competing, contending, striving, rivaling, battling

Antonyms: cooperating, collaborating, assisting, helping