Rival Meaning

UK /ˈraɪvəl/
US /ˈraɪvəl/
Word Definition
rival meaning

Rival Definition & Usage

noun

A person, team, or thing that competes with another for the same objective or in the same field.

Examples

  • "The two companies are fierce rivals in the tech industry."
  • "Throughout the tournament, the rival teams kept exchanging victories."
  • "In college sports, every rivalry match is an event to remember."
  • "The rivalry between the two athletes grew stronger with each competition."
  • "Their rivalry started in high school and continued into their professional careers."
verb

To compete with someone or something, especially in a way that is considered challenging or adversarial.

Examples

  • "The two firms are rivalling for dominance in the market."
  • "In the past, their teams rivaled each other for the championship."
  • "She was rivalling with the top students for the prestigious award."
  • "Our products rival those of the industry leaders in quality."
  • "As new businesses rise, they often rival the established companies in innovation."

Cultural Context

The concept of rivalry is deeply embedded in various cultural, historical, and social contexts. Rivalries are common in sports, politics, business, and personal relationships. From historic political rivalries to the intense competition between sports teams, rivalry is a universal element of human competition.

The Rivalry That Shaped the Future

Story

The Rivalry That Shaped the Future

In a small town nestled between two mountain ranges, two families, the Martins and the Hendersons, had been rivals for as long as anyone could remember. The rivalry began over a disagreement about land ownership decades ago, but it had evolved over the years into something much larger. Every generation seemed to inherit the bitter competition, from business to local elections. But this rivalry reached its peak when Sarah Martin and Jake Henderson, the youngest members of each family, found themselves competing for the town's prestigious mayoral seat. The election was heated, with each family rallying behind their respective candidate. Sarah, who had spent years studying local politics, believed she could bring about much-needed change. Jake, on the other hand, was a natural leader, with a strong sense of tradition and a commitment to maintaining the status quo. As the election day neared, the townspeople were divided, each household backing one of the candidates, and the rivalry between the two families became a source of constant tension. On the night before the election, Sarah and Jake found themselves face-to-face at the old town hall, where they had spent years watching their parents argue. They had both riveted their lives to this moment, each striving to prove their family’s dominance. Jake smiled slightly and said, 'Tomorrow, we’ll see who really deserves to lead.' Sarah, looking him square in the eye, replied, 'May the best candidate win.' As the ballots were counted the next day, it was clear that their rivalry had shaped the outcome in a way neither family could have predicted. Despite the intense competition, the town had come together to vote for a future where the past would not dictate the future. Sarah Martin won the election by a narrow margin, but she knew that the real challenge lay in bridging the divide that the rivalry had created. It wasn’t just about winning; it was about healing a town that had been divided for generations. The rivalry between the Martins and the Hendersons would never fully disappear, but it had evolved into a new kind of challenge—one that would push both families to work together for the future of the town.

The Rivalry That Shaped the Future