彼らは互いに出し抜こうと懸命だった。

彼らは互いに出し抜こうと懸命だった。

They tried very hard to gain an advantage over one another.

彼(かれ)らは互(たが)いに出(だ)し抜(ぬ)こうと懸命(けんめい)だった。

Karera wa tagaini dashinukou to kenmei datta.

彼ら (かれら)

they (usually male); them

は (は)

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

互いに (たがいに)

mutually; with each other; reciprocally; together

出し抜く (だしぬく)

to forestall; to anticipate; to jump the gun on; to outwit; to circumvent; to steal a march on

と (と)

if; when; and; with; particle used for quoting (with speech, thoughts, etc.); quoting particle; promoted pawn; indicates question (sentence end)

懸命 (けんめい)

eagerness; earnestness; risking one's life

だ (だ)

be; is; indicates past or completed action; indicates light imperative

Readings: ヒ、かれ、かの、か.の

Meanings: he, that, the

Readings: ゴ、たが.い、かたみ.に

Meanings: mutually, reciprocally, together

Readings: シュツ、スイ、で.る、 -で、だ.す、 -だ.す、い.でる、い.だす

Meanings: exit, leave, go out, come out, put out, protrude

Readings: バツ、ハツ、ハイ、ぬ.く、 -ぬ.く、ぬ.き、ぬ.ける、ぬ.かす、ぬ.かる

Meanings: slip out, extract, pull out, pilfer, quote, remove, omit

Readings: ケン、ケ、か.ける、か.かる

Meanings: state of suspension, hang, depend, consult, distant, far apart

Readings: メイ、ミョウ、いのち

Meanings: fate, command, decree, destiny, life, appoint