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Glite Dictionary
to enter the competition

to enter the competition

3 2.8
To sign up to take part in a contest
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : participar en la competencia
  • Another conclusion from the discussion was that we want to keep the bar for entering the competition reasonably low and motivate new participants to enter the competition.
  • entered the competition last year

So we follow a group of these teenagers as they enter the competition.

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Examples

  • Are you going to enter the competition this year with your project?

  • It's wonderful if people from other countries were able to enter the competition.

    Blog text (8)

  • You need to make sure that you enter the competition armed with a great product and an effective strategy.

    Blog text (21)

  • Since they were all outside judges, the club was able to enter the competition.

    Academic text (2001)

  • We would take affirmative steps to encourage them to enter the competition.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Under such conditions, all ambitious people, regardless of their party membership, can enter the competition based on their personal capabilities.

    Academic text (2000)

  • One student from the IT Entrepreneurship class entered the competition last year and went on to be a finalist.

    Academic text (2017)

  • You're gonna have a medical exam, just to make sure you're all physically fit to enter the competition.

    Human Zoo (2020)

  • "I'm not bummed out," says Lyric Da Queen, who entered the competition as a solo act before partnering in a group with brothers Julien and Jemelle Joseph.

    Blog text (11)

  • My sister plans to enter the competition after she finishes her new painting.

Synonyms

to participate
vsto enter the competition
866 2.5

To join in an activity with other people

requires formal registration to compete rather than informal involvement
to enter
vsto enter the competition
535 1.1

To register to take part in a competition or event

is specific to contests and requires official registration
to take part
vsto enter the competition
169 1.4

To join in an activity with other people

requires official registration to join a contest as a participant
to enroll
vsto enter the competition
  • US
164 2.7

To register officially to take a course or join a group

is specific to contests while this usually applies to courses or organizations
to throw one's hat in the ring
vsto enter the competition
  • Informal
5 7.4

To say you will run for a position, for example in an election

involves official registration rather than only announcing intent
to put one's name in the hat
vsto enter the competition
  • Informal
1 6.5

To say you want to be chosen for a job or position

requires actual registration to participate rather than merely being considered
to enter the lists
vsto enter the competition
  • Archaic
9.3

To join a competition that already has other people competing to try to win

involves official registration rather than just deciding to join

Antonyms

to drop out
214 3.0

To leave a course, competition or group before finishing

to pull out of
79 3.2

Leave an activity or agreement you had joined

How Official

entry
50 2.8
to enter the competition
3 2.8
to take part
169 1.4
to try out
64 2.8

Surface Forms

enter the competition infinitive
entered the competition past
entered the competition past participle
entering the competition present participle
enters the competition third person singular

Morphology

enter + the + competition

The meaning 'to take part in a contest by registering' is directly and transparently derived from 'enter' (to register or go into) combined with 'competition' (an event where people compete); the definite article 'the' does not change the compositional meaning. This verb + noun collocation is a common, literal construction found across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Enter the competition may come from the simple image of people walking through a gate or into a ring to join a contest. Because to enter meant to go in and be part of the competition, it now means 'to sign up and take part'.