competitive

adjective

com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv How to pronounce competitive (audio)
Synonyms of competitive
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After watching Jovic’s rise this season, Pegula praised her competitive instincts and rapid adjustment to grass. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 Major League Eating proclaimed him 2024 Rookie of the Year in the competitive eating world. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 4 July 2026 As thousands sing, clap and chant together, attendees describe a feeling of bliss and belonging, a chance to step outside the pressures of work, studies and an increasingly competitive society. — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 Goldman Sachs, which assigned one of the lowest price targets at $42 noted their top risks were a slowdown in demand, competitive dynamics, and capacity expansion. — Assiatou Hann, CNBC, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for competitive

Word History

Etymology

see competition

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of competitive was in 1829

Phrases Containing competitive

Rhymes for competitive

See All Rhymes for competitive

Browse Nearby Words

competitioner
competitive
competitive exclusion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Competitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/competitive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

competitive

adjective
com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv How to pronounce competitive (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce competitive (audio)
: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances
competitive inhibition of an enzyme
competitive protein binding
competitively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on competitive

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for competitive

Nglish: Translation of competitive for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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