competitive
gb/kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv/ us/kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv/
B1
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
wanting to win or be best
Wanting to win or be better than other people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is competitive
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'competitive' with 'competent'. 'Competitive' relates to wanting to win; 'competent' means capable or skilled.
Synonyms
ambitious (Suggests a strong desire to achieve success, sometimes without direct comparison to others.)
|
driven (Emphasizes determination and focus on goals, not necessarily in competition.)
Antonyms
unambitious (Lacking the desire to achieve more than others or improve oneself.)
|
easygoing (Relaxed and not concerned about competing or winning.)
Collocations
highly competitive
|competitive spirit
|fiercely competitive
|competitive nature
|intensely competitive
Themes
emotions
|sports
|business
Examples
- She has always been competitive, even as a child.
- The students were highly competitive in the science fair.
- He's so competitive that he hates losing at board games.
- Our company culture is extremely competitive.
- Being competitive can push you to work harder.
Learner examples
- My brother is very competitive.
- She is competitive in sports.
- He is competitive at work.
- I am not competitive with my friends.
adjective
B1
property
2
involving competition between people or groups
Involving people or groups trying to win or be the best.
Usage pattern:
competitive [activity/market/event]
Synonyms
rivalrous (Formal term for involving rivalry or competition.)
Antonyms
noncompetitive (Not involving competition or rivalry.)
Collocations
competitive market
|competitive sport
|competitive exam
|competitive industry
Themes
sports
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Tennis is a highly competitive sport.
- We operate in a very competitive market.
- The job requires passing a competitive exam.
- The school has a competitive admissions process.
Learner examples
- Soccer is a competitive sport.
- It is a competitive market.
- The test is competitive.
- They have a competitive game.
adjective
B2
property
3
good enough to compete successfully
Good enough in quality or price to be as good as others.
Usage pattern:
competitive [price/product/service]
Synonyms
attractive (Appealing in terms of value or quality compared to alternatives.)
|
viable (Capable of succeeding in competition.)
Antonyms
uncompetitive (Not good enough to succeed against others.)
Collocations
competitive price
|competitive product
|competitive advantage
Themes
business
|economics
|finance
|work
Examples
- We offer competitive prices on all our products.
- The team has built a competitive product that rivals the market leader.
- To stay competitive, the company must innovate.
Learner examples
- The store has competitive prices.
- This phone has a competitive price.
- We sell at a competitive price.
Grammar
Dictionary form
competitive
IPA
GB/kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv/
US/kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
com - pet - it - ive (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pet)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: competitive
Word family
Core family
Related words
competitiveness
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
uncompetitive
adjective
noncompetitive
adjective
Expressions
competitive advantage
1/kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv ædvˈæntɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
unique factor for business success
Something special that helps a company do better than others.
Examples
- Low production costs give them a big competitive advantage.
- Brand loyalty is their main competitive advantage.
competitive edge
1/kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv ˈɛd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
advantage over rivals
Something that makes you better than other people or companies in a competition.
Examples
- Her language skills give her a competitive edge in the job market.
- Innovation is the key to maintaining a competitive edge.
fiercely competitive
1/fˈɪɹsli kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
Very determined to win
Wanting very much to win or be the best.
Examples
- The tech industry is fiercely competitive right now.
- She is fiercely competitive in everything she does.
- He is fiercely competitive on the tennis court.
- The market for smartphones is fiercely competitive.