competitor to

USAGE SUMMARY

"competitor to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone or something that is competing against another person or thing. For example: She is a formidable competitor to the reigning world champion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mailbox is the obvious competitor to Inbox.

The Guardian - Tech

FindTheBest is not a direct competitor to Google.

The New York Times

Poynt, a competitor to Where was less full-featured.

The New York Times - Tech

It's hardly a serious competitor to Shanghai's shiny Pudong.

The New York Times

"The press will anoint some alternative, some competitor to Romney.

The New Yorker

There is a competitor to flu season: senioritis.

The New York Times

That would make it a direct competitor to Skype.

The Economist

It is pushing its competitor to Flash, called Silverlight.

The New York Times - Tech

Cima is also developing a competitor to Cephalon's painkiller Actiq.

The New York Times

Expect more than one competitor to be booed offstage.

The New York Times

He's the only competitor to complete the move all weekend.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "competitor to", ensure you clearly identify both the competitor and the entity they are competing against. This provides clarity and context to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "competitor to" when referring to entities that simply operate in the same industry but don't directly vie for the same customers or market share. The phrase implies a direct contest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "competitor to" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a relationship of rivalry or competition. It identifies something as being in contention with something else, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "competitor to" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to denote rivalry or competition between entities. Ludwig's analysis confirms its validity and frequent usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. While alternatives like "rival of" and "in competition with" exist, "competitor to" effectively highlights a direct competitive relationship. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying both the competitor and the entity they are competing against. It's important to consider the context of the competition to avoid misapplication of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in competition with

A more formal way of expressing the same competitive relationship.

rival of

Focuses on the aspect of rivalry, implying a strong sense of competition.

contender for

Emphasizes striving for the same goal or position.

challenger to

Highlights the act of challenging an established entity.

opponent in

Specifically denotes someone faced in a direct contest or confrontation.

threat to

Suggests a potential danger or negative impact due to competition.

vying with

Implies active and intense striving against another.

matching against

Highlights the act of being pitted against each other.

antagonist of

Suggests a direct opposition or adversarial relationship.

in the running against

Highlights the competitive aspect in a race or selection process.

FAQs

How do I use "competitor to" in a sentence?

Use "competitor to" to describe a person, company, or product that is vying for the same market share or recognition as another. For example, "Samsung is a major competitor to Apple in the smartphone market".

What are some alternatives to "competitor to"?

You can use alternatives like "rival of", "challenger to", or "in competition with" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "competing to" instead of "competitor to"?

While "competing with" is grammatically correct and expresses a similar idea, "competitor to" specifically identifies something or someone as a rival. "Competing with" describes the act of competing, not the entity itself.

What's the difference between "competitor to" and "substitute for"?

"Competitor to" implies direct rivalry in the same market, while "substitute for" means one thing can be used in place of another, even if they aren't directly competing.