rival

1 of 3

noun

ri·​val ˈrī-vəl 

1

a

: one of two or more striving to reach or obtain something that only one can possess

b

: one striving for competitive advantage

2

obsolete : companion, associate

3

: equal, peer

rival

2 of 3

adjective

: having the same pretensions or claims : competing

rival

3 of 3

verb

rivaled or rivalled; rivaling or rivalling ˈrīv-(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to act as a rival : compete

transitive verb

1

: to be in competition with

2

: to strive to equal or excel : emulate

3

: to possess qualities or aptitudes that approach or equal (those of another)

Did you know?

On Rivals, Rivaling, and Rivalry

The word rival most commonly refers to a person or group that tries to defeat or be more successful than another person or group, which means that rivals tend to come in pairs. Candidates running for the same political office are political rivals, and two people trying to earn the exclusive affection of a third are romantic rivals. Teams, schools, or companies might be longtime rivals if they try over many years to outdo each other.

Rival can also mean “equal” or “peer.” When the word is used in this way it's usually conveying how good or impressive something or someone is. For example, "a country musician the rival of any in the world" is as good as the best country musicians in the world. Often a negating word is added to assert superiority, as in "a country musician without rival."

As a verb, rival typically has a meaning that relates to this latter sense of the noun. The verb is most often used to say that someone or something possesses qualities or aptitudes that approach or equal those of another. For example, for one country musician to be rivaling another, the first country musician must be as good as or nearly as good as the other musician. (Note that in U.S. English, the verb's forms are usually spelled rivaled and rivaling; in British English rivalled and rivalling are preferred.)

The noun rivalry has to do with the state or situation in which rivals (usually in the “competitor” sense) exist, or in which rivaling happens. In politics we have political rivalries, and in matters of the heart there are romantic rivalries. Sibling rivalry exists when there is competition or jealousy between sisters or brothers.

Synonyms

Noun

• equivalent
• counterpart
• partner
• fellow
• colleague

Verb

• compete
• contend
• race

Examples of rival in a Sentence

Noun

The teams have been longtime rivals.

The men are romantic rivals for her affection.

Verb

The company manufactures paper that rivals the world's best.

The new museum will rival the largest in the world.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The experience is rarely solo; most people watch sports with friends and family, or at stadiums, surrounded by fans and rivals. —Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

New rivals Shoreview, Minnesota, Logo of the Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers fast food restaurant. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 30 June 2025

Adjective

After its 2023 merger with rival Total Access Communications, True is now the country’s largest mobile operator with nearly 49 million subscribers. —Phisanu Phromchanya, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Culiacan, which has around 1 million residents and is the capital of western Mexico's Sinaloa state, has been wrought by a war for control between two rival drug trafficking groups of the Sinaloa cartel – Los Chapitos and La Mayiza. —Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025

Verb

If accurate, that would place the future trophy property in rare company, rivaling the likes of Ken Griffin’s now-legendary $1 billion spread just down the road. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 July 2025

If built, the project would represent one of the largest private investments in Kentucky’s history, potentially rivaling the $5.8 billion BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County. —Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin rivalis one using the same stream as another, rival in love, from rivalis of a stream, from rivus stream — more at run

First Known Use

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing rival

• mortal foe/rival

Rhymes for rival

• archival
• arrival
• revival
• survival
• conjunctival
• subconjunctival

Kids Definition

rival

1 of 3 noun

ri·​val ˈrī-vəl 

1

a

: one of two or more trying to get what only one can have

b

: competitor

2

: one that equals another : peer

rival

2 of 3 adjective

: of, relating to, or being a rival

rival

3 of 3 verb

rivaled or rivalled; rivaling or rivalling ˈrīv-(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to be in competition with

2

: to be as good as or almost as good as

manufacture linens that rival the world's best

Etymology

Noun

from early French rival "rival," from Latin rivalis "one using the same stream as another, a rival in love," from rivalis (adjective) "of a stream," from rivus "stream"

Word Origin

The English word rival can be traced to the Latin word rivus, meaning "a stream." From rivus came the Latin rivalis, which meant "one who uses the same stream as another." Those who must share a stream may argue about who has the right to use the water. Such disputes are common when two people want the same thing. The Latin word rivalis in time came to be used for other people who are also likely to fight with each other. It meant "a man in love with the same woman as another man." This sense of rivalis came into English as rival.