competition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈti-shən How to pronounce competition (audio)
Definition of competitionnext
1
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a competition between two fierce football rivals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in contestant
one who strives for the same thing as another tried to analyze his major competition in the tennis tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the intense competition for bragging rights to being the city's best French restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of competition In an interview with Mental Floss, competitive eater Yasir Salem discusses how speed eaters will chew gum to strengthen their jaws to avoid fatigue during competitions. — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026 The lack of competition is another plus when comparing this year with 2022, which was shifted to November and December due to the heat in Qatar, putting the tournament up against football. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 July 2026 Vuitton subsequently took part in competitions like the 1908 New York to Paris Race, and cemented its association with the sport by partnering with the Automobile Club de Monaco in 2021. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 July 2026 The ensemble that brings to life The Guest (Gæsten), which world premieres on Sunday, July 5 in the main competition program of the 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), reads like a who’s who of Danish acting. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for competition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competition
  1. tournament
  2. contestant
  3. rivalry
  4. event
  5. competitor
  6. battle
  7. game
  8. contender
Noun
  • Cardwell has anchored the defense for a team that could contend for its second Summer League championship in six years after winning the tournament in 2021.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • Captain Tim Ream entered the media area after the defeat, a shell of a man who had spent the previous days proudly leading the team throughout this tournament, playing in four US matches at this World Cup.
    — David Close, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of tournament
Noun
  • The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island in New York on July 4, where contestants ate several days' worth of calories in just 10 minutes.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The reality star — who was briefly engaged to the winner of his season, Hannah Ann Sluss, and dated his fifth place contestant, Kelley Flanagan, on and off for years — addressed the book for the first time on Monday.
    — Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026
Definition of contestant
Noun
  • The Pride and Angel City have established a fierce rivalry in their short history.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • Spain and Portugal renew their historic rivalry, with Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo in contrasting lights.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • Greenwood is leading a series of high-profile events to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Fans from around the world attended the event, with many saying this World Cup has felt different.
    — Anna McAllister, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • Joby has been in a fierce battle to be the first with taxis in the sky with its Northern California competitor Archer Aviation.
    — Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Plaintiffs claimed that Disney’s carriage agreements required streaming platforms to include ESPN in base channel packages, limiting the ability of competitors to offer cheaper bundles.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of competitor
Noun
  • True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • There have been naval battles and beheadings and aerial battles and, well, more beheadings.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • The Red Sox and Nationals turned a regular June game into the biggest baseball brawl of the season after Boston hothead Willson Contreras completely lost it.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • The Dodgers are in the midst of playing 13 games in 13 days, and Roberts wanted to make sure that the Japanese sensation got a break.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • The East's hierarchy is now fluid, with the Sixers emerging as serious contenders, though the Celtics remain a formidable force.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • If allowed to run, Le Pen is widely seen as a top contender to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

competing
competition
competitions
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Cite this Entry

“Competition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competition. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on competition

Nglish: Translation of competition for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about competition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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