rival

[ rahy-vuhl ]

noun

1. a person who is competing for the same object or goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo another; competitor.

   Synonyms: antagonist, adversary, emulator, opponent

   Antonyms: ally

2. a person or thing that is in a position to dispute another's preeminence or superiority:

   a stadium without a rival.

3. Obsolete. a companion in duty.

adjective

1. competing or standing in rivalry: rival businesses.

   rival suitors;

   rival businesses.

   Synonyms: opposed, competitive

verb (used with object)

, ri·valed, ri·val·ing or (especially British) ri·valled, ri·val·ling.

1. to compete with in rivalry; strive to win from, equal, or outdo.

   Synonyms: oppose

2. to prove to be a worthy rival of:

   He soon rivaled the others in skill.

3. to equal (something) as if in carrying on a rivalry:

   The Hudson rivals any European river in beauty.

   Synonyms: emulate, match

verb (used without object)

, ri·valed, ri·val·ing or (especially British) ri·valled, ri·val·ling.

1. to engage in rivalry; compete.

rival

/ ˈraɪvəl /

noun

1. 1. a person, organization, team, etc, that competes with another for the same object or in the same field
   2. ( as modifier )

      rival suitors

      a rival company

2. a person or thing that is considered the equal of another or others

   she is without rival in the field of economics

verb

1. to be the equal or near equal of

   an empire that rivalled Rome

2. to try to equal or surpass; compete with in rivalry

Other Words From

• rival·less adjective
• non·rival noun adjective
• outrival verb (used with object) outrivaled outrivaling or (especially British) outrivalled outrivalling
• un·rival·ing adjective
• un·rival·ling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rival¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin rīvālis, originally, “one who uses a stream in common with another,” equivalent to rīv(us) “stream” + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rival¹

C16: from Latin rīvalis , literally: one who shares the same brook, from rīvus a brook

Synonym Study

See opponent.

Example Sentences

As regional emblems go, only the palm tree seems to rival the bird of paradise in popularity.

From Los Angeles Times

Long the economic engine that has powered the company, Disney’s theme park finances have been closely watched by analysts, particularly as rival Universal plans to debut its Epic Universe theme park in Orlando next year.

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier, Granada Hills beat crosstown rival Kennedy 21-10 to win the Division I title — its first boys’ water polo title in school history.

From Los Angeles Times

Light-welterweight champion Taylor edged her rival to win by split decision in an all-time classic in 2022.

From BBC

In the era of "liberal peace", an agreement to end a civil war was the drafting of a democratic constitution, along with measures for disarming and demobilising rival armies, transitional justice and reconciliation, and aid-funded programmes to deliver a peace dividend for the afflicted populace.

From BBC

Related Words

• competing