What does rivalling mean?
Rivalling means competing with or measuring oneself against another person, organization, product, or claim. It is both the present participle of the verb "rival" and an adjective describing close competitors or competing interests. For example, two businesses may be described as rivalling each other, while rival political candidates campaign for the same office or rival claims compete for attention. The word often implies that the contestants are reasonably evenly matched rather than one being clearly superior. It is common in journalism, business, politics, arts, and sport, and can carry a slightly competitive or adversarial tone. British English normally spells it with two l's as "rivalling," whereas US English generally uses "rivaling."
Present participle of "rival": competing with another person or thing.
"Local businesses are rivalling the national chain on price."
Used as the present participle in continuous constructions or independently in a gerund-like function.
Describing people or things that are close competitors or that make competing claims.
"The two artists are rivalling for the commission."
The spelling "rivaling" is more common in US English.
A rival originally meant someone who drew water from the same stream; competition over the right to share that stream became a metaphor for competition in general.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rivalling come from?
The word belongs to the family of "rival" and "rivalry." "Rival" came through Old French from Latin rivalis, originally a person who drew from the same stream or watercourse and later, by extension, a person in competition. The modern form developed through English use and was combined with the suffix "-ing" to create the present participle and adjective.
How rivalling is actually used
The form is especially common in British spelling; US publications usually use "rivaling" with one l. It can function as the present participle of the verb "rival" or as an adjective modifying a competitor, claim, or achievement.
Easily confused with rivalling
Rivalling is the standard British spelling with two l's, while rivaling with one l is the usual US spelling.