English · Family & People
rival
/ˈraɪvəl/
[/ˈraɪvəl/]
competitor
Intermediatenoun
Definition
A person who competes with another for the same thing.
Example
The two athletes are friendly rivals who push each other to improve.
The two athletes are friendly rivals who push each other to improve.
Etymology
From Latin "rivalis," one using the same stream, from "rivus," a stream.
How & Where It’s Used
Refers to a competitor; can be friendly or hostile.
Cultural Note
"Rival" originally meant people sharing a river, who often quarreled over it.