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
New Collector Currencies With a more sophisticated and diverse consumer base that is discerning in its spending, a new trifecta for competitive advantage has emerged.
—
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Folsom has Lake Natoma, which the campaign says caters to beginners, families and competitive paddlers, citing the lake’s 5 mph speed limit.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Achieving Growth Through Collaboration Modern competitive landscapes have led numerous entrepreneurs and businesses to overlook the emergent opportunities found in collaboration.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Adelman, 44, pushed back at reporters after Game 4 of the series for questioning his team’s competitive spirit in a 112-96 loss.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for competitive
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Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Folsom has Lake Natoma, which the campaign says caters to beginners, families and competitive paddlers, citing the lake’s 5 mph speed limit.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Achieving Growth Through Collaboration Modern competitive landscapes have led numerous entrepreneurs and businesses to overlook the emergent opportunities found in collaboration.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Adelman, 44, pushed back at reporters after Game 4 of the series for questioning his team’s competitive spirit in a 112-96 loss.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 May 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 5 May. 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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