Competition is the effort to do better than others who want the same thing you want. When you enter a spelling bee, you're in competition with other spellers who all want to win. When two stores sell similar products, they're in competition for customers. When athletes race, they're competing to cross the finish line first.

Competition pushes people to improve and excel. A runner trains harder knowing others are training too. A student studies more thoroughly when the class science fair offers prizes. Companies create better products when other companies are trying to win the same customers.

When you compete against a skilled chess opponent, you both think harder and play better. Competition makes you sharper.

Competition appears in many areas of life: sports, business, academics, and games. Some situations involve fierce competition, while others call for cooperation, where everyone can succeed together.