Meaning & use
competitive
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Wanting very much to beat others and win, or involving people trying to win.
Grammar: Can describe people or activities: a competitive child, a competitive sport.
Patterns
- very competitive
- competitive about something
My sister is so competitive that she hates losing at cards.
Competitive swimming begins at a young age in our town.
The interview was a competitive process with over two hundred applicants.
adjectivecomparablebusiness
Good enough in price, quality or features to succeed against rivals.
Grammar: Often used in business: competitive prices.
Patterns
- competitive with something
- stay competitive
The company offers competitive salaries to attract new staff.
Our prices are competitive with those of larger stores.
They must cut costs to stay competitive.
adjectivecomparable
Close and evenly matched, so the result is uncertain.
Grammar: Used about games or races: a competitive match.
Patterns
- a competitive game
The final was fiercely competitive until the last minute.
After a weak start, the team became competitive again.
It was a competitive race with five runners close together.
Word forms
| comparative | more competitive |
|---|---|
| superlative | most competitive |
Common combinations
- highly competitive
- Medical school admission is highly competitive.
- competitive advantage
- Fast delivery gives the shop a competitive advantage.
- competitive edge
- Training gave her a competitive edge.
- competitive price
- They advertised a competitive price for the phone.
- fiercely competitive
- The market for cheap flights is fiercely competitive.
- competitive spirit
- He has a strong competitive spirit.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ambitious
- Ambitious describes a drive to achieve goals, but not necessarily to beat other people.
- cutthroat
- Cutthroat is stronger and negative, suggesting ruthless rivalry.
- cooperative
- Cooperative is the opposite in spirit, as it means working with others; it is not a synonym but contrasts.
- aggressive
- Aggressive suggests forceful pressure and may be hostile, while competitive can be friendly or healthy.
Opposites
Word family
- compete verb
- to try to win against others
- competition noun
- a contest, or the rivals one faces
- competitor noun
- a person or company that competes
- competitively adverb
- in a way that involves rivalry
- competitiveness noun
- the quality of being competitive
Commonly confused: competitive or competent?
competitive vs competent
Competent means able to do something well enough; competitive means eager to win or able to rival others.
Practice
The airline lowered its fares to stay ___ with budget carriers.
Choose one answer.
Competitive with rivals means able to match them. Competent describes ability and compatible describes things that work together.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “competitive”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.