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View synonyms for

competitive

[ kuhm-pet-i-tiv ]

adjective

  1. of, pertaining to, involving, or decided by competition:

    competitive sports; a competitive examination.

  2. well suited for competition; having a feature that makes for successful competition:

    a competitive price.

  3. having a strong desire to compete or to succeed.
  4. useful to a competitor; giving a competitor an advantage:

    He was careful not to divulge competitive information about his invention.



competitive

/ əˈɛɪɪ /

adjective

  1. involving or determined by rivalry

    competitive sports

  2. sufficiently low in price or high in quality to be successful against commercial rivals
  3. relating to or characterized by an urge to compete

    a competitive personality

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • dzˈپپԱ, noun
  • dzˈپپ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • dz·i·پ· adverb
  • dz·i·پ·Ա noun
  • t·dz·i·پ adjective
  • anti·dz·i·پ· adverb
  • anti·dz·i·پ·Ա noun
  • ԴDzcdz·i·پ adjective
  • nondz·i·پ· adverb
  • nondz·i·پ·Ա noun
  • v·dz·i·پ adjective
  • over·dz·i·پ· adverb
  • over·dz·i·پ·Ա noun
  • d·dz·i·پ adjective
  • pseudo·dz·i·پ· adverb
  • ܲȴ-dz·i·پ adjective
  • quasi-dz·i·پ· adverb
  • p·dz·i·پ adjective
  • ܲcdz·i·پ adjective
  • undz·i·پ· adverb
  • undz·i·پ·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of competitive1

First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin dzī(ܲ) (past participle of competere “to meet, coincide”; compete ) + -ive
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But under new rules, from next season, only those born biologically female will be allowed to take part in competitive matches in the women's game north of the border.

From

The Liberals have vowed to maintain the push on reducing emissions - as part of the fight against climate change - while ensuring Canadian companies are still competitive.

From

To make it as a fashion model is one thing; to endure in such an intensely competitive field, as Christie Brinkley has done, is quite another.

From

The new policy will apply to all competitive football in Scotland, including the grassroots game from under-13s and over.

From

We often become frustrated or angry at work when we believe our colleague said something to be competitive or malicious.

From

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More About Competitive

doescompetitive mean?

Competitive is most commonly used to describe a person who has a strong desire to compete and win.

Competitive is commonly associated with sports, but it is used in many different contexts that involve competition. It is commonly used to describe someone or something that is able to succeed against or stay even with others in the same contest or setting, as in Our new product will help us stay competitive in this market.

Example: Most pro athletes are competitive by nature and always want to win no matter what they’re playing—even if it’s something as simple as a game of cards.

Where doescompetitive come from?

The first records of competitive come from the 1820s. It derives from the Latin verb competere, meaning “to meet, come together.”

Competition often involves two or more individuals or teams coming together in some kind of contest. Being competitive in this context can mean a few different things. Most often, it means someone really wants to win—in a particular competition or in general. Elite athletes are often described as ultra-competitive, meaning they have a strong drive to win. If you warn a new player in your weekly poker game that it can get pretty competitive, you mean that the players aren’t just playing for fun—they’re playing to win. In this way, competitiveness is often associated with aggressiveness.

Competitive can also refer to having what it takes to compete in a particular setting, as in We’re giving students the tools that they’ll need in order to stay competitive in the workplace of the future. The word is used similarly in the context of business, especially to describe a product that has a price or level of quality that will make it appealing compared to other similar products.

Did you know ... ?

are some other forms related to competitive?

are some synonyms for competitive?

are some words that share a root or word element with competitive?

are some words that often get used in discussing competitive?

How iscompetitive used in real life?

Competitive is often used to describe people who always want to win. It is especially used in the context of sports and other situations that involve competition, such as business.

Try usingcompetitive!

Which of the following words is least likely to describe someone who is competitive?

A. ambitious
B. aggressive
C. ruthless
D. passive

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competitioncompetitive exclusion