competitive
adjective
com·pet·i·tive
kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv 
1
: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition
competitive sports
a competitive marketplace
2
: inclined, desiring, or suited to compete
a competitive personality
competitive interest rates
3
: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances
competitive inhibition of an enzyme
competitively
adverb
competitiveness
noun
Examples of competitive in a Sentence
She is a very competitive player.
You need a degree to be competitive in today's job market.
Recent Examples on the Web
The convenience of self-service is expected, and augmented reality shopping experiences continue to improve and will become a competitive differentiator for certain retailers.
—
Shep Hyken, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
And at the Christmas party, with the flow of dubious punch, (that no one in their right mind would serve at any other time of the year), after about 9 or 10 p.m., the man hugging becomes a competitive sport.
—Louis J. Esterhazy, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
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02 of 10
'Intermezzo' by Sally Rooney
After their father’s death, brothers Peter, a lawyer, and Ivan, a competitive chess player, navigate very different relationships.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Scenes from the natural world offer a meditative respite from the competitive fervor, exploring what else has meaning for Alexey: the health of the oceans.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for competitive 
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Shep Hyken, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
And at the Christmas party, with the flow of dubious punch, (that no one in their right mind would serve at any other time of the year), after about 9 or 10 p.m., the man hugging becomes a competitive sport.
—Louis J. Esterhazy, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
Buy Now These Goodreads Choice Awards Winners Also Made PEOPLE's Book Picks
02 of 10
'Intermezzo' by Sally Rooney
After their father’s death, brothers Peter, a lawyer, and Ivan, a competitive chess player, navigate very different relationships.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Scenes from the natural world offer a meditative respite from the competitive fervor, exploring what else has meaning for Alexey: the health of the oceans.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for competitive
Dictionary Entries Near competitive
Cite this Entry
“Competitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/competitive. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
competitive
adjective
com·pet·i·tive
kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv
: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition
competitive sports
competitive bidding
competitively
adverb
competitiveness
noun
Medical Definition
competitive
adjective
com·pet·i·tive
kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv
: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances
competitive inhibition of an enzyme
competitive protein binding
competitively
adverb
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