(1) ①compete against/with, contend against/with, contest against/with, vie with均表示“与(某人) 竞争，以图赢得奖金或生意”等，后接竞争对手。

• Jim competed against/with the world's best runners in the Olympic Games, and did well to come third.
  吉姆与奥运会上世界最佳赛跑运动员竞争，荣获第三名。
• Our firm is too small to compete/contend/contest against/with large international companies.
  我们公司太小，无法与国际大公司竞争。
• The two young men vied with each other for the lady's favor.
  这两个年轻人为赢得那位女士的青睐，互相争风吃醋。
• You will have to run your best, as you will be vying with some of the best runners in the country.
  你得跑出最佳成绩，因为你要跟这个国家的最优秀的运动员们角逐。

②这些短语还表示“与困难等抗争”。

• We try to make the trains run on time, but we can't compete/contend/contest against/with bad weather.
  我们试图让火车准点运行，可是我们无法与坏天气抗争。

 (2) compete for, contend for意思是“与别人竞争(奖项或生意)”，后接竞争目标。

• Runners from many countries are competing/contending for the international prize.
  来自许多国家的赛跑运动员将要角逐这项国际大奖。
• Firms from across the country may compete for the contract.
  全国各地的公司均可竞争这项合同。