rival
noun
a person who is competing for the same object or goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo another; competitor.
rivaled
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past participleof rival.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof rival.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
rivalnouna person who is competing for the same object or goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo another; competitor.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“For generations, it provided a common stock of references and allusions, rivaled only by Shakespeare in this respect,” the late writer Christopher Hitchens wrote in a 2011 essay on the King James Version.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
Sheehan was charged with three runs in five-plus innings, a massive turnaround coming off the second-shortest start of his career, only rivaled by a planned one-inning outing at the end of last season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026
The extent to which he has reshaped U.S. politics and society is rivaled by few of his predecessors; presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2026
Bad Bunny is a true superstar, racking up streaming numbers rivaled only by Taylor Swift.
From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2026
This year, Christmas Eve fell on a Tuesday, and in the Vanderbeeker tradition, Christmas Eve dinner rivaled Thanksgiving dinner in scope and quality.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
