Dictionary

vie en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /vaɪ/
• (US) audio
• (UK) audio

Etymology

Apheretic form of envy, from Middle English envien, from Old French envier, from Latin invītō.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) A contest.

Forms

Relateds

a-vie · eau de vie · life estate pur autre vie

vie en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /vaɪ/
• (US) audio
• (UK) audio

Etymology

Apheretic form of envy, from Middle English envien, from Old French envier, from Latin invītō.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To fight for superiority; to contend; to compete eagerly so as to gain something.
   • The Major Stations category is keenly contested, with 24 other large city centre termini and major rail hub stations all vying for recognition. As ever, the NRA's expert panel of judges visited each as unannounced mystery shoppers. 2023 October 18, Nick Brodrick, “The grand gateway to Glasgow”, in RAIL, number 994, page 33:
   • It is the tradition of a trading nation[…], that the younger sons[…] may be placed in such a way of life as […] to vie with the best of their family. 1711 July 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “TUESDAY, July 4, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 109; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
   • Near-synonym: oppose
   • Her suitors were all vying for her attention.
2. (archaic, transitive) To rival (something), etc.
   • But, if there be, or ever were, one such, / It's past the size of dreaming: nature wants stuff / To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine / An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, / Condemning shadows quite. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
3. (transitive) To do or produce in emulation, competition, or rivalry; to put in competition; to bandy.
   • She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss / She vied so fast. c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
   • Nor was he set over us to vie wisdom with his Parliament, but to be guided by them. 1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC:
   • And vying malice with my gentleness, / Pick quarrels with their only happiness. 1633, George Herbert, The Sacrifice:
4. To stake; to wager.
   • Out, thou camelion harlot! now thine eyes Vie tears with the hyæna 1605 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, Ben: Ionson His Volpone or The Foxe, [London]: […] [George Eld] for Thomas Thorppe, published 1607, →OCLC, (please specify the Internet Archive page):
   • Nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
5. To stake a sum of money upon a hand of cards, as in the old game of gleek. See revie.

Forms

Antonyms

concede · give in · give up · reconcile

Deriveds

envie · outvie

Synonyms

oppose · contest · battle · compete

Translations (41)

fr être en compétition pour (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · ru сопе́рничать (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · nl wedijveren (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · de konkurrieren (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · ca rivalitzar (to rival (something), etc) · it rivaleggiare (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · es disputarse (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · be выпярэ́днічаць (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · es rivalizar (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · sh такмичити се (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · fi kilpailla (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · ka მეტოქეობა (to rival (something), etc) · it competere (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · mi taupatupatu (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · pl współzawodniczyć (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · es competir (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · fa رقابت کردن (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · ar تَبَارَى (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · mi tauwhāinga (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · fr rivaliser (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · it essere in lizza (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · hu verseng (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · bg съпернича (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · uk супе́рничати (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · cs soupeřit (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · be супе́рнічаць (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · es contender (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · it lottare (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · ka მეტოქეობა (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · de wetteifern (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · cy cystadlu (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · ota رقابت ایتمك (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · uk змага́тися (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · tr yarışmak (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · cs bojovat (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · pt competir (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · es luchar (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · fr concourir (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · it gareggiare (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · cs přetahovat se (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete) · ar تَنَافَسَ (to rival; to struggle for superiority; to compete)