To compete eagerly with others to achieve or win something.
From Old French 'vier' meaning to challenge or stake, possibly from Latin 'via' (way) or related to inviting someone to match oneself. The word evolved to mean competing for superiority.
The word 'vie' is unusual because it's a relatively uncommon verb in everyday speech, yet it's one of the few short words in English that specifically means competitive effort—most people use 'compete' instead, making 'vie' feel more formal and literary.
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