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
The two sides, now locked into competitive postures, might also simply grow exasperated with each another and announce new trade restrictions out of the blue.
—
Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Pressure looms for schools to be competitive and consistent immediately under coaches amid an era of change in college athletics.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Some professionals working in certain competitive fields are eligible for additional compensation, which are primarily funded through specific revenue streams that are not part of the state’s general funds that support the university, Harper said.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
These are still critical ingredients to creating differentiation and competitive advantage.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competitive
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Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Pressure looms for schools to be competitive and consistent immediately under coaches amid an era of change in college athletics.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Some professionals working in certain competitive fields are eligible for additional compensation, which are primarily funded through specific revenue streams that are not part of the state’s general funds that support the university, Harper said.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
These are still critical ingredients to creating differentiation and competitive advantage.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 29 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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
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