rival
pronunciation
How to pronounce rival in British English:
UK [ˈraɪvl]
How to pronounce rival in American English:
US [ˈraɪvl]
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- Noun:
- the contestant you hope to defeat
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- Verb:
- be equal to in quality or ability
- be the rival of, be in competition with
Word Origin
- rival
- rival: [16] A rival is etymologically ‘someone who uses the same stream as another’. The word comes from Latin rīvālis, a noun use of an adjective meaning ‘of a stream’, derived from rīvus ‘stream’ (source of English derive). People who use or live by the same stream are neighbours and hence, human nature being as it is, are usually in competition with each other – hence rival.=> derive
- rival (n.)
- 1570s, from Latin rivalis "a rival, adversary in love; neighbor," originally, "of the same brook," from rivus "brook" (see rivulet). "One who is in pursuit of the same object as another." The sense evolution seems to be based on the competitiveness of neighbors: "one who uses the same stream," or "one on the opposite side of the stream" A secondary sense in Latin and sometimes in English was "associate, companion in duty," from the notion of "one having a common right or privilege with another." As an adjective 1580s from the noun.
- rival (v.)
- c. 1600, from rival (n.). Related: Rivaled; rivaling.
Antonym
Example
- 1. But it kept its big rival at bay .
- 2. For there is a rival theory about iran .
- 3. Awkward episodes , like the conflict between rival irish nationalist groups in 1922-23 , were airbrushed away .
- 4. The only economic anxiety to rival property is local-government debt .
- 5. That leads to another problem : the magna deal involves a rival .