rival
- a person who is competing for the same object or goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo another; competitor.
- a person or thing that is in a position to dispute another's preeminence or superiority: a stadium without a rival.
- Obsolete. a companion in duty.
- competing or standing in rivalry: rival suitors; rival businesses.
- to engage in rivalry; compete.
Origin of rival
Synonyms for rival
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for rival
Related Words for rival
competing, competitor, contender, competition, challenger, peer, adversary, opponent, emulate, equal, resemble, conflicting, opposed, cutthroat, combatant, battling, vying, combating, contestingExamples from the Web for rival
Contemporary Examples of rival
“The US cannot tolerate the idea of any rival economic entity,” Stone writes.
Assad-affiliated Christian militias skirt around the territory of rival groups aligned with the YPG.
In One Corner of Syria, Christmas Spirit Somehow Manages to SurvivePeter Schwartzstein
December 25, 2014
Abramson, biting her tongue, was widely portrayed in rival outlets as classily above the fray.
They unleashed a hail of bullets to rival the final scene in ‘Bonnie and Clyde.’
Likewise, it was the attempt to balance the power of rival European states that led to the conflict.
‘America in Retreat’: Why Neo-Isolationism Exploded Under Obama and What We Can Do About ItJames Kirchick
December 1, 2014
Historical Examples of rival
His rival could no longer enjoy the boat which he had envied him.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
Until this visit of Austin he had no idea that he would find a rival in his brother.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
It is considered to be, without a rival, the most beautiful tomb in this country.
Yorkshire Painted And DescribedGordon Home
She knew what it must have cost the man to clear his rival's name.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
This degrading humiliation of his rival must certainly be turned to account.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
rival
- a person, organization, team, etc, that competes with another for the same object or in the same field
- (as modifier)rival suitors; a rival company
- a person or thing that is considered the equal of another or othersshe is without rival in the field of economics
- to be the equal or near equal ofan empire that rivalled Rome
- to try to equal or surpass; compete with in rivalry
Word Origin for rival
Word Origin and History for rival
1570s, from Latin rivalis "a rival, adversary in love; neighbor," originally, "of the same brook," from rivus "brook" (see rivulet). "One who is in pursuit of the same object as another." The sense evolution seems to be based on the competitiveness of neighbors: "one who uses the same stream," or "one on the opposite side of the stream" A secondary sense in Latin and sometimes in English was "associate, companion in duty," from the notion of "one having a common right or privilege with another." As an adjective 1580s from the noun.
c.1600, from rival (n.). Related: Rivaled; rivaling.