rival

/ˈraɪvəl/
nounIntermediate
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

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

rival for attentionphrase
someone or something that competes for attention
rival claimphrase
a competing claim or assertion

💡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
root
English Dictionary