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

Since triumphing in last week's vote, Trump has been assembling his top team - with another of his one-time Republican rivals, Marco Rubio, reportedly in the frame to be his new secretary of state.

From BBC

The tie-up will see the firms sharing critical technology at a time of slowing global demand for electric cars and increased competition from Chinese rivals.

From BBC

Across Manchester, rivals City have struggled to keep their opponents at bay.

From BBC

McIlroy would need to finish top 11 this week to complete the job, but only if his closest rival, South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, emerges victorious this Sunday.

From BBC

Her administration recently deployed hundreds of troops to Sinaloa, in northern Mexico, where a war between rival factions of the state’s namesake cartel is raging.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• competing