rival
UK: ˈraɪvəl | US: ˈraɪvəl
n. a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or superiority
vt. to be or seem equal or comparable to
adj. competing or striving for the same thing
The word "rival" originates from the Latin rivalis, meaning "one who uses the same stream (rivus) as another." In ancient times, neighbors sharing a river often competed for its resources, leading to the modern sense of competition. The morpheme "riv" preserves the original Latin root for "river," while "-al" denotes association. Over time, the term expanded from literal water disputes to any competitive relationship.
The two companies have been fierce rivals in the tech industry for decades.
Her talent rivals that of professional musicians.
They were childhood friends but became rivals in high school sports.
No other product can rival this smartphone’s battery life.
The siblings viewed each other as rivals for their parents’ attention.