competition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈti-shən How to pronounce competition (audio)
Definition of competitionnext
1
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a competition between two fierce football rivals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in contestant
one who strives for the same thing as another tried to analyze his major competition in the tennis tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the intense competition for bragging rights to being the city's best French restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of competition The abovementioned half a dozen movies join the ten already announced as competition titles in the Official Selection of the San Sebastián Film Festival, including new movies from Mike Leigh and a TV series from Pablo Larraín. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 Take Off world premiered in competition at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October and opened in Chinese theaters in January, grossing $12 million (RMB 81 million). — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 The Premier League is one of the biggest competitions in sports, with its teams now largely owned by oil-rich gulf states or private equity. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 Still, the streamer’s stock is down 35% from a year ago, as competition from other platforms has grown. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for competition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competition
  1. tournament
  2. contestant
  3. rivalry
  4. event
  5. competitor
  6. battle
  7. game
  8. contender
Noun
  • But he was forced to apologize after his plans to form a subsidiary to run the tournament, which would have opened the door for investors to buy stakes of up to ​20% in a spinout firm, collapsed after widespread backlash across the sport.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The departure symbolizes opportunity, even more so now that the women’s and men’s tournaments are sold separately.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of tournament
Noun
  • Higgins was joined by Rausch and fellow Season 4 contestants Monét X Change, Tara Lipinski, Lisa Rinna, Rob Cesternino and Eric Nam for the Deadline conversation.
    — The Deadline Team, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The finale features four contestants competing on an American Ninja Warrior–style course, and the other 116 competitors lined up behind them in patriotic jerseys.
    — Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of contestant
Noun
  • The Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, which originated in 1892, has waned a bit in recent years as the Milwaukee Brewers have taken control of the National League Central.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • As China’s strategic rivalry with the US and its allies deepens, Beijing has broadened its anti-espionage campaign, casting suspicious eyes on foreign ties amid concerns about the leak of state secrets.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • Hundreds of people with stereo systems, disco balls, tents, kegs and mattresses left huge amounts of trash, set off fireworks and used Tunitas Creek Beach as a bathroom during all-night events.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • This week, Cuba commemorated Castro with events including the International Book Fair, art exhibitions, concerts and gatherings of delegates from leftist organizations across the continent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • Klobuchar handily won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary Tuesday with no major competitors.
    — Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Burger King’s growth is a stark contrast compared to its competitors.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitor
Noun
  • Alex Wagner, who served as assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs during the Biden administration, argued recruiting has remained remarkably insulated from those political battles.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The fight preceded the Zeus main event, which was a battle between stars from the network’s Baddies series, Tehneski and Big Lex.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • Instead, in their wake, the league veered far in the other direction, taking the finesse out of the game and turning on-court play into a street fight, with officials unable or unwilling to get their arms round the physicality.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • With the standout performance from Pereyra, the Loons ended a nine-game winless skid in all competitions.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • Hüller starred alongside Ryan Gosling in Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s Project Hail Mary and headlines Paweł Pawlikowski’s Fatherland, which premiered in Cannes and is considered a strong awards-season contender.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The six join previously announced Golden Shell contenders from Roberto Bueso, Nicole Garcia, Mikel Gurrea, Maha Harada, Pablo Larraín, Mike Leigh, Hans Petter Moland, Benjamín Naishtat, Javier Ruiz Caldera and Yeşim Ustaoğlu.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

competing
competition
competitions
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Cite this Entry

“Competition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competition. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on competition

Nglish: Translation of competition for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about competition

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