Meaning of rival

(noun) the contestant you hope to defeat; "he had respect for his rivals"; "he wanted to know what the competition was doing"

(verb) be equal to in quality or ability; "Nothing can rival cotton for durability"; "Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues"; "Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents"

be the rival of, be in competition with; "we are rivaling for first place in the race"