Compete vs. Race — What's the Difference?

Strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others

A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course

To strive against another or others to attain a goal, such as an advantage or victory.

A strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel in the sea or a river

To be in battle or in a rivalry with another for the same thing, position, or reward; to contend

A water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, as in a mill or mine.

To be in a position in which it is possible to win or triumph.

A smooth ring-shaped groove or guide in which a ball bearing or roller bearing runs.

To take part in a contest, game or similar event

A fenced passageway in a stockyard through which animals pass singly for branding, loading, washing, etc.

To contend emulously; to seek or strive for the same thing, position, or reward for which another is striving; to contend in rivalry, as for a prize or in business; as, tradesmen compete with one another.

(in weaving) the channel along which the shuttle moves.

Compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

Each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics

A ginger root.

Compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective

Move or progress swiftly or at full speed

A group of people identified as distinct from other groups because of supposed physical or genetic traits shared by the group. Most biologists and anthropologists do not recognize race as a biologically valid classification, in part because there is more genetic variation within groups than between them.

A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution

A genealogical line; a lineage.

Humans considered as a group.

A usually geographically isolated population of organisms that differs from other populations of the same species in certain heritable traits

A breed or strain, as of domestic animals.

A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine.

A competition of speed, as in running or riding.

Races A series of such competitions held at a specified time on a regular course

An extended competition in which participants struggle like runners to be the winner

Steady or rapid onward movement

A strong or swift current of water.

The channel of such a current.

An artificial channel built to transport water and use its energy. Also called raceway.

A groovelike part of a machine in which a moving part slides or rolls.

See slipstream.

Of or relating to race; racial

Of or relating to forms of popular entertainment made by and largely marketed to African Americans in the early 1900s

(Sports) To compete in a contest of speed.

To move rapidly or at top speed

To run too rapidly due to decreased resistance or unnecessary provision of fuel

To compete against in a race.

To cause to compete in a race

To transport rapidly or at top speed; rush

To cause (an engine with the gears disengaged, for example) to run swiftly or too swiftly.

A contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective. Example: Several horses run in a horse race, and the first one to reach the finishing post wins

Swift progress; rapid motion; an instance of moving or driving at high speed.

(computing) A race condition.

A progressive movement toward a goal.

A fast-moving current of water, such as that which powers a mill wheel.

A water channel, esp. one built to lead water to or from a point where it is utilised.

Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life.

The bushings of a rolling element bearing which contacts the rolling elements.

A group of sentient beings, particularly people, distinguished by common ancestry, heritage or characteristics:

A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage compare ethnic group. See Wikipedia's article on historical definitions of race.

A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of common physical characteristics, such as skin color or hair type.

A large group of sentient beings distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage compare species, subspecies.

A group or category distinguished from others on the basis of shared characteristics or qualities, for example social qualities.

(biology) A population geographically separated from others of its species that develops significantly different characteristics; a mating group.

(zoology) Subspecies.

(animal husbandry) A breed or strain of domesticated animal.

An infraspecific rank, a pathotype, pathovar, etc.

(obsolete) Peculiar flavour, taste, or strength, as of wine; that quality, or assemblage of qualities, which indicates origin or kind, as in wine; hence, characteristic flavour.

(obsolete) Characteristic quality or disposition.

Ancestry.

A rhizome or root, especially of ginger.

(intransitive) To take part in a race (in the sense of a contest).

(transitive) To compete against in a race (contest).

(intransitive) To move or drive at high speed; to hurry or speed.

To run rapidly when not engaged to a transmission.

To assign a race to; to perceive as having a (usually specified) race.

To raze.

To run swiftly; to contend in a race; as, the animals raced over the ground; the ships raced from port to port.

To run too fast at times, as a marine engine or screw, when the screw is lifted out of water by the action of a heavy sea.

To cause to contend in a race; to drive at high speed; as, to race horses.

To run a race with.

A root.

The descendants of a common ancestor; a family, tribe, people, or nation, believed or presumed to belong to the same stock; a lineage; a breed.

Company; herd; breed.

A variety of such fixed character that it may be propagated by seed.

Peculiar flavor, taste, or strength, as of wine; that quality, or assemblage of qualities, which indicates origin or kind, as in wine; hence, characteristic flavor; smack.

Hence, characteristic quality or disposition.

A progress; a course; a movement or progression.

Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running.

Hence: The act or process of running in competition; a contest of speed in any way, as in running, riding, driving, skating, rowing, sailing; in the plural, usually, a meeting for contests in the running of horses; as, he attended the races.

Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life.

A strong or rapid current of water, or the channel or passage for such a current; a powerful current or heavy sea, sometimes produced by the meeting of two tides; as, the Portland Race; the Race of Alderney.

The current of water that turns a water wheel, or the channel in which it flows; a mill race.

A channel or guide along which a shuttle is driven back and forth, as in a loom, sewing machine, etc.

Any competition;

People who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock;

A contest of speed;

The flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller

(biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species

A canal for a current of water

Step on it;

Compete in a race;

To work as fast as possible towards a goal, sometimes in competition with others;

Cause to move fast or to rush or race;