Here's a breakdown:
* Vied: Past tense of "vie," which means to compete eagerly or strive for something.
* Attention: The act of focusing one's mind on something.
Example:
"The colorful toys vied for the baby's attention, each trying to capture her gaze."
Other ways to say "vied for attention":
* Competed for attention
* Fought for attention
* Contested for attention
* Sought attention
The phrase implies that there are multiple things or people trying to get noticed, and they are all actively trying to be the most interesting or prominent.