rivalry

[ rahy-vuhl-ree ]

/ ˈraɪ vəl ri /

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noun, plural ri·val·ries.

the action, position, or relation of a rival or rivals; competition: rivalry between Yale and Harvard.

an instance of this.

Nearby words

Origin of rivalry

First recorded in 1590–1600; rival + -ry

SYNONYMS FOR rivalry

1 opposition, antagonism; jealousy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rivalry ON THESAURUS.COM

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rivalry

Making this scenario more complicated is the rivalry between al Qaeda and ISIS.
A Gift to the Jihadis: The Unseen Airport Security Threat|Clive Irving|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For coinosseuers of literature, the sagas stories of family struggles, rivalry, and conflict rank with Homer and Shakespeare.
Want to Write a Book? Go to Iceland|Adam LeBor|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bitter rivalry is about as bitter as any rivalry involving Canada can be.
#LoserKeepsBieber Means Justin’s Probably Coming to America|Amy Zimmerman|February 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sean Hannity versus Michael Savage—these two conservative radio hosts have recently ratchet up their rivalry.
George Zimmerman Wants to Profit Off Trayvon Martin’s Death|Dean Obeidallah|February 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I wonder if this has anything to do with the long-standing Slovenian-Croatian rivalry.
Half of This Bar Is in Slovenia, the Other Half Is in Croatia|Jeff Campagna|January 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The poor Queen, forgetting our rivalry, had taken all my children into her affections.
The Memoirs of Madame de Montespan, Complete|Madame La Marquise De Montespan
Rivalry for the favor of a woman or man is occasionally the source of serious affrays.
Ethnology of the Ungava District, Hudson Bay Territory|Lucien Turner
These factors in Pacific rivalry will be discussed in detail in the following chapters.
Problems of the Pacific|Frank Fox
That greatly excited my rivalry, and I succeeded in finding some reasons for eulogy that she had forgotten.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
Among the twelve tribes of Israel the spirit of rivalry soon showed itself, leading to disastrous consequences.
The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Joshua|William Garden Blaikie

British Dictionary definitions for rivalry

rivalry

/ (ˈraɪvəlrɪ) /

noun plural -ries

the act of rivalling; competition

the state of being a rival or rivals

Derived Formsrivalrous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rivalry

rivalry

1590s; from rival + -ry. Shakespeare has rivality ("Antony and Cleopatra"), but from the secondary sense of the root word and meaning "partnership, equality in rank."

rivalry

noun, plural ri·val·ries.

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Nearby words

Origin of rivalry

Examples from the Web for rivalry

British Dictionary definitions for rivalry

rivalry

noun plural -ries

Word Origin and History for rivalry

rivalry

Medicine definitions for rivalry

rivalry

n.