rival

Everyday

1. A person, team or business that competes with another for the same thing: The two schools are old rivals. tree →
2. (verb) To be as good as someone or something: Her cake rivals any shop's cake. tree →
3. (adjective) Competing: rival gangs, rival shops. tree →

In the lessons

In sport and stories rivals compete for a prize, a trophy or friendship. In business maths, rival shops offer different prices to compare. In science, animals are rivals for food and mates. Phrases: «arch-rival», «rival team», «without rival», «rival someone in something».

Examples

• The two football teams are fierce rivals. tree →
• Our rival shop sells apples 5p cheaper. tree →
• Nothing can rival Grandma's apple pie. tree →
• The rival team scored 3 goals; we scored 4. tree →
• She beat her rival in the final race. tree →
• Batman's arch-rival is the Joker. tree →
• Male deer fight their rivals in autumn. tree →
• All the King’s unsuccessful rivals had gone home in despair. tree →

Note

Countable: rivals. Past tense: rivalled (UK, Australia), rivaled (US). Noun: rivalry. A rival is an opponent, not necessarily an enemy.

In Jewish tradition

In the verse it means a second wife who is a competitor to the first, here a wife's sister.

Interpretation. The law forbids marrying two sisters at once, and the rabbis read it as protecting the bond between sisters and peace in the home.

Examples

• And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime. (Torah LEV.18.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• And her rival vexed her sore, to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. (Prophets 1SA.1.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And thou shalt behold a rival in My habitation, in all the good which shall be done to Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever. (Prophets 1SA.2.32, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: rivals. Past tense: rivalled (UK, Australia), rivaled (US). Noun: rivalry. A rival is an opponent, not necessarily an enemy.