Competitive is an adjective describing a tendency or drive to compete, or something involving or geared toward competition. It often conveys a strong, ambitious mindset and a desire to win or excel relative to others. In usage, it can refer to people, environments, or products that emphasize rivalry and performance.
US: More rhotic awareness and alveolar flapping can affect the /t/ in rapid speech; keep /t/ crisp before /ɪ/ regardless of flapping tendencies. UK: tends to retain clearer enunciation of /t/ and /v/; less vowel reduction in the middle. AU: similar to UK; vowels can be slightly more centralized; maintain the /petɪtɪv/ rhythm with a vivid /t/. Across all, the key is stress stability on PET and the final /v/ sound. IPA references: US /kəˈmpetɪtɪv/, UK /kəˈmpetɪtɪv/, AU /kəˈmpetɪtɪv/.
"The team has a competitive spirit that pushes everyone to improve."
"Her approach to business is highly competitive, always seeking the sharpest edge."
"We joined a competitive league to test our skills against tougher opponents."
"The market is competitive, with several brands vying for the same customers."
Competitive derives from the noun competition, through the Latin compete(n)ere, from com- ‘together’ + petere ‘to seek, strive for’. The root petere appears in many English words tied to seeking or aiming, including compete, competition, and competition-based terms. The suffix -ive turns a verb or noun into an adjective meaning ‘inclined to, tending to, having the nature of’. The word entered English in the 18th century, gaining prominence in contexts of sports and economics where individuals and organizations strive to outperform rivals. Over time, competitive has acquired nuanced usage beyond literal competition, broader connotations of drive, optimization, and rivalry in workplaces, markets, and social settings. In modern use, it often describes not just people but systems, products, and environments that encourage rivalry and performance, sometimes with a positive, aspirational tone and other times with a critical emphasis on cutthroat tactics.
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Help others use "Competitive" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Competitive" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Competitive" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Competitive"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /kəmˈpetɪtɪv/ in US/UK/AU variants. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: com-PET-i-tive. Start with a weak initial syllable /kə/ (schwa + k), then /ˈpet/ with a clear ‘pet’ and a light T, followed by /ɪ/ (short i) and end with /v/ or /v/? Wait, final is /v/. The ending is a light, voiced labiodental fricative. Practically: kuh-MET-i-tiv, with the emphasis on MET. For clarity: kə-MET-ə-tiv with stress on the second syllable.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the first syllable (con-PET-itive), mispronouncing the third syllable as /tiː/ instead of /tɪ/ (saying ‘com-PET-eev’), and slurring the final consonant so it sounds like /vɪf/ or /v/. Correct by pronouncing the middle ‘pet’ clearly with a short /ɪ/ in the third syllable and ending with /v/. Emphasize that the rhythm is da-DA-da-DA-tiv with the main beat on PET.
In all three accents, stress remains on the second syllable: com-PET-i-tive. US and UK share /kəmˈpetɪtɪv/. Australian often maintains the same rhythm, but vowels can be slightly more centralized; the /ɪ/ in the third syllable can be slightly lax in fast speech. Rhoticity differences are minimal here; /r/ is not involved. The main differences arise from vowel quality and flapping in American English, which can render /t/ between vowels as a quick tap /ɾ/ in rapid speech, but in careful utterance it stays /t/.
Difficulties arise from the multi-syllabic structure with four syllables: the secondary stress pattern, the unstressed prefix com-, and the mid vowel sequence /petɪ/. The middle ‘pet’ cluster requires precise articulation to avoid blending with the following /ɪ/; many speakers reduce /ɪ/ or merge /tɪv/ into /tɪv/ but softening happens. The final /v/ needs lip involvement that’s easy to omit when rushing. Practicing the sequence helps you segment and then blend.
Does the word ever sound like ‘competition’? Not exactly, but the two share related roots and similar segments. A unique angle is how the suffix -ive affects the preceding vowel length and consonant release. The correct form is /kəmˈpetɪtɪv/, with a crisp /t/ before the final /ɪv/. Practice by isolating the /tɪv/ cluster and ensuring the //t/ is released clearly before the final /v/.
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