Looking up...
rival
/ˈraɪvəl/
competitor or opponent
The two companies are fierce rivals in the tech industry.
They compete strongly against each other.
general
A person or group that competes with another for the same objective or resources.
She considered him her biggest rival in the chess tournament.
She saw him as her strongest competitor.
The two sports teams have been rivals for decades.
They have a long history of competing against each other.
Can also refer to someone who is a close match or equal in ability or status.
Collocations
rival companya competing businessrival teama competing sports teamrival candidatea competing person in an election
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage in Sports
In sports, 'rival' often refers to a team or player that is a strong competitor.
Gold Rule
Competitive Context
Use 'rival' when referring to someone or something that competes for the same goal or resources.
Word Origin
From Middle French 'rival', from Latin 'rīvus' (stream), originally referring to people living on opposite sides of a stream, leading to disputes.
Usage Notes
Often used in competitive contexts, such as sports, business, or politics.
Word Breakdown
rival
competitor or opponent
rootEnglish Dictionary