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
Even though Hims doesn’t accept insurance, the costs are competitive — the company claims their treatments are priced 50-80% lower than retail.
—
Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The university is looking for a leader committed to championing academic excellence, as well as someone with a competitive vision who engages in clear communication and collaborative leadership.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
More than 93,000 ballots cast by both parties in first five days, more than double 2024 pace, as voter anger, a competitive Senate race and crowded local contests drive turnout.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Former legislator Ian Calderon acknowledged staying in the race to reach undecided voters, suggesting that the race’s wide-open nature meant unexpected developments could fundamentally alter the competitive landscape.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competitive
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Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The university is looking for a leader committed to championing academic excellence, as well as someone with a competitive vision who engages in clear communication and collaborative leadership.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
More than 93,000 ballots cast by both parties in first five days, more than double 2024 pace, as voter anger, a competitive Senate race and crowded local contests drive turnout.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Former legislator Ian Calderon acknowledged staying in the race to reach undecided voters, suggesting that the race’s wide-open nature meant unexpected developments could fundamentally alter the competitive landscape.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competitive
Cite this Entry
“Competitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/competitive. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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
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