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Prepositions after verbs

Vie for or vie with?

Vie for and vie with are both correct, but they express different parts of competition.

Quick answer

How do you use vie with?

Use vie for to mention the prize, position, or goal. Use vie with to name the competitor.

Several firms are vying for the contract.
Local brands vie with global companies.
The teams are vying for first place.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
vie for + goal/prize

Competing to obtain something

For introduces the thing people want to win or achieve.

Candidates are vying for public support.
The actors vied for the lead role.
2
vie with + competitor

Competing against someone

With introduces the rival or competing group.

Small shops vie with large chains.
3
vie against + opponent

Direct competition in contests

Against is possible in sporting or formal competitive contexts.

The champion will vie against younger players.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
vie for
Three companies are vying for the project.
Competing to gain something.
vie with
Independent artists vie with major labels.
Competing against another person or group.
vie against
Teams vie against international rivals.
Emphasises direct opposition.
vie over
The groups vied over control of the area.
Focuses on the subject of conflict.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using with for the prize

With names the competitor, not the goal.

✕ They vied with the championship. ✓ They vied for the championship.

Using for before a rival

For should not introduce the competing person.

✕ The company vied for its competitors. ✓ The company vied with its competitors.

Misspelling the present participle

The common spelling is vying.

✕ The teams are vieing for first place. ✓ The teams are vying for first place.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Several athletes are vying ___ a place on the team.
2. Local cafes vie ___ international chains.
3. The clubs vied ___ control of the market.

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Frequently asked questions

Can vie for and vie with appear in the same sentence?

Yes. For example: Small firms vie with larger companies for government contracts.

Is vie a formal word?

It is more formal than compete but still common in journalism and business writing.

What is the difference between vie with and compete with?

They are very similar. Vie with often sounds slightly more formal or literary.

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