competitive
adjective
com·pet·i·tive
kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv 
1
: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition
competitive sports
a competitive marketplace
2
: inclined, desiring, or suited to compete
a competitive personality
competitive interest rates
3
: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances
competitive inhibition of an enzyme
competitively
adverb
competitiveness
noun
Examples of competitive in a Sentence
She is a very competitive player.
You need a degree to be competitive in today's job market.
Recent Examples on the Web
Whereas a hotel or resort can focus on implementing competitive strategies while staying at one address, private jets are continuously in motion.
—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Instead, the space agency has developed a competitive system, called the Commercial LEO Destinations program, to help spur private investment in a space station.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
While StubHub stock could rise at the IPO – especially if the offering is oversubscribed – consumer backlash, regulatory pressure, competitive threats, and profitability deterioration make $STUB particularly risky.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Wage increases at Bank of America Bank of America has been making annual pay increases to stay competitive in the workforce, which started with $15 an hour in 2018.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competitive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Instead, the space agency has developed a competitive system, called the Commercial LEO Destinations program, to help spur private investment in a space station.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
While StubHub stock could rise at the IPO – especially if the offering is oversubscribed – consumer backlash, regulatory pressure, competitive threats, and profitability deterioration make $STUB particularly risky.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Wage increases at Bank of America Bank of America has been making annual pay increases to stay competitive in the workforce, which started with $15 an hour in 2018.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competitive
Cite this Entry
“Competitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/competitive. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
competitive
adjective
com·pet·i·tive
kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv
: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition
competitive sports
competitive bidding
competitively
adverb
competitiveness
noun
Medical Definition
competitive
adjective
com·pet·i·tive
kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv
: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances
competitive inhibition of an enzyme
competitive protein binding
competitively
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share