competitively

Competitively is an adverb describing the manner in which actions are taken to gain an advantage in competition. It denotes performing, pricing, bidding, or acting in a way that emphasizes being capable of outperforming rivals or meeting market standards.

In usage, competitively can apply across various domains. In business, firms may price goods or services competitively to attract customers and maintain market share. In sports, teams and athletes compete competitively to achieve better results and rankings. In recruitment or markets for talent, organizations may offer compensation or terms that are designed to attract top candidates in a competitive labor market. The term can carry a neutral or positive tone when it implies efficiency, innovation, and effective benchmarking, but it can also carry a negative connotation when it suggests aggressive or ruthless behavior.

Etymology and grammar: competitively is formed from the adjective competitive, which derives from the verb compete. The adverb functions to modify verbs, indicating the manner of action, and can also modify adjectives or other adverbs in some constructions. Typical usage patterns include statements such as “priced competitively,” “played competitively,” or “recruited competitively.”

See also: competitive, competition, competitiveness, price competitiveness. The word is commonly used in business writing, sports reporting, and general discourse to describe strategies or behaviors aimed at outperforming rivals and achieving favorable comparisons.