competitive

competitive — adjective

1. describing an event, situation, or activity in which two or more people, teams,

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing an event, situation, or activity in which two or more people, teams, or businesses try to win or gain an advantage over each other.

Example

The company operates in a highly competitive global market where prices change daily.

collocation: highly competitive market

Beatriz won first place in a competitive gymnastics tournament last weekend.

Common collocations
  • competitive market
  • competitive sport
  • competitive environment
  • competitive bid
  • competitive edge
Synonyms
  • rival

    stronger, implies direct opposition (rival teams)

  • contested

    focuses on the fact that both sides are fighting for something

  • opposing

    describes one side against another, often in elections or sports

Antonyms
  • non-competitive

    describes situations without rivalry or contest

  • cooperative

    focuses on working together rather than against each other

Grammar Patterns

competitive + noun

be + competitive

Usage Note

Often modifies nouns describing events or settings (game, sport, market, election, environment). Cannot describe a person's character — see sense 2 for that meaning.

Common Mistakes

She is a competitive athlete because she practices every day.' (ambiguous — could be sense 1 or 2).
She is a competitive athlete who trains at the national level.' (sense 1: the sport she plays involves competition) or 'She has a competitive personality and trains every day.' (sense 2: her personal drive).
Use clear context or switch to sense 2 when referring to personal ambition.

2. having a strong drive to outdo those around them, whether at work, in sports, in

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a strong drive to outdo those around them, whether at work, in sports, in class, or during games — for instance, someone who feels unhappy unless they come first or get the top score.

Example

Ravi is very competitive and always wants to finish his work before anyone else.

predicative: be + competitive

The Watanabe family's competitive spirit showed when they argued over board-game rules.

collocation: competitive spirit

Common collocations
  • competitive nature
  • competitive spirit
  • competitive drive
  • competitive person
  • highly competitive
Synonyms
  • ambitious

    broader — can describe career goals without direct comparison to others

  • driven

    focuses on strong inner motivation to achieve

  • determined

    emphasises not giving up, while competitive stresses wanting to beat others

Antonyms
  • easygoing

    relaxed about winning or outcomes; the opposite of a competitive personality

  • unambitious

    lacking the drive to achieve or outperform others

Grammar Patterns

be + competitive

so + competitive + that + clause

competitive + noun (nature, spirit, person)

Usage Note

Describes a person's character or inner motivation, not a situation or activity. Compare with sense 1, which describes events. Common in the pattern 'so competitive that...' to show extreme behaviour.

Common Mistakes

He is competitive to get the job.
He is very competitive and really wants to get the job.
'competitive' is not followed directly by a to-infinitive; use 'and' or restructure the sentence.

3. describing a price, rate, product, or service that is at least as attractive or

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a price, rate, product, or service that is at least as attractive or favourable as those offered by rival businesses — usually because the cost is low or the quality is high in comparison.

Example

Leila found a hotel with competitive rates near the train station.

collocation: competitive rates

The store offers competitive prices on all electronics during the holiday sale.

collocation: competitive prices

Common collocations
  • competitive price
  • competitive rate
  • competitive offer
  • competitive advantage
  • competitive with
Synonyms
  • reasonable

    suggests the price is fair without directly comparing to rivals

  • affordable

    focuses on the buyer's ability to pay, not on comparison with competitors

  • low-cost

    stresses that the price is cheap, not merely competitive

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

competitive + noun (price, rate, offer)

be + competitive with + noun

Usage Note

Used of prices, rates, products, or services — never of people or situations. The preposition 'with' follows this sense: 'competitive with [something/someone]'.

Common Mistakes

This phone is competitive.' (vague — with what?).
This phone has a competitive price compared to other models on the market.
Say what it is competitive with, or use 'competitive price/rate/offer' as a set phrase.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe situations where people or groups try to outperform one another, but they differ in emphasis. 'Competitive' is the broadest term — it describes any event, market, or setting where competition exists: 'a competitive exam' or 'a competitive industry'. 'Rival' is stronger and more personal; it implies direct opposition between specific parties: 'rival gangs' or 'rival smartphone brands'. 'Contested' focuses on the struggle for control or ownership of something, often in politics or sports: 'a contested election' or 'a closely contested match'. 'Competing' works as an adjective to describe things that are in direct conflict: 'competing theories' or 'competing claims'. Use 'competitive' for general situations, 'rival' for specific opposing parties, and 'contested' when the outcome is uncertain and both sides are fighting hard for it.

rival ↗contestedcompeting

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • competitive edge
  • competitive advantage

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'competere', meaning 'to strive together' — from 'com-' (together) and 'petere' (to seek, to strive). The word passed through French into English in the early 17th century, originally carrying the sense of 'striving together toward a common goal'. Over time it shifted to describe the modern idea of rivalry between people, businesses, or teams.