Rival: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when two entities are competing in a way that they are almost equal in strength or ability. Often implies a long-standing or historical competition.

• They have been rivals since high school.
• The two companies have a fierce rivalry.

Used in business or sports contexts to describe someone or something engaged in a competition. Neutral connotation.

• She is a strong competitor in the market.
• Our company needs to stay ahead of our competitors.

Mostly used in sports or debate contexts to describe someone you are competing against at a specific moment.

• He shook hands with his opponent after the match.
• The politician debated his opponent fiercely.

Implies a more direct conflict or opposition, often with strong negative connotations. Commonly used in formal or serious contexts.

• In the courtroom, the lawyer faced his old adversary.
• He proved to be a worthy adversary in the chess tournament.

Used to describe someone or something you are in competition with, often in the same field or area. It implies direct competition.

• She has been my rival in every academic contest we've entered
• The two companies are rivals in the smartphone market

Generally describes the act of participating in a contest or striving to win against others. It is a broader term than 'rival' and can be used in various contexts.

• Athletes from all over the world compete with each other in the Olympics
• Our company is looking to compete with major brands in the industry

Can be used to describe a competitor in a contest, but it also means to call someone out to a competition or test their skills or abilities. It often indicates a test or difficult task.

• He decided to challenge the best player in the school to a chess match
• Climbing Mount Everest is one of the greatest challenges an adventurer can face