1.compete的基本意思是“力图取胜”,指在比赛、辩论等有竞争活动中为征服或取胜而进行的努力,常暗示有奖赏刺激物。
2.compete是不及物动词,接against表示“与…对抗”,接for表示“夺取…”,接with表示“对…抗争”。

compete against(v.+prep.)
与…抗争 struggle against sb or sth with hope of success
▲compete against sb
Jim competed against the world's best runner in the Games and did well to come third.在运动会上吉姆与世界最佳赛跑运动员竞争,他成绩不错,得了第三名。
The firm is too small to compete against large international companies.这个公司太小,不能与大跨国公司竞争。

compete for (v.+prep.)
比赛…夺取 try to win sth in competition with sb else
▲compete for sth
Runners from many countries are competing for the international prize.来自许多国家的赛跑运动员正在为获得这项国际奖而竞争。
Firms from across the country may compete for the contract.全国各地的公司都可能为承揽这项合同而竞争。

compete with (v.+prep.)
与…抗争 struggle against sb or sth with hope of success
〔说明〕 compete with常不用于进行体。
▲compete with sb/sth
We try to make the trains run on time, but we can't compete with weather.我们努力使火车准点运行,但我们抗争不过天气。
We cannot hope to compete with so experienced a team.我们没有希望能够与如此经验丰富的队竞争。
It is difficult for a small grocery store to compete with a supermarket.小商店很难与超市抗争。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
Some 2000 athletes competed in 20 events.约2000名运动员参加了20个项目的比赛。
These products are of high quality and able to compete internationally.这些产品质量很好,在国际市场上有竞争能力。
All these countries competed in this trade of human beings.所有这些国家都参与了贩卖人口的竞争。

compete, contend, contest
参见contend条。