contest

American  

[kon-test, kuhn-test] / ˈkɒn tɛst, kənˈtɛst /

noun

1. a race, conflict, or other competition between rivals, as for a prize.

   Synonyms:

   game, tourney, tournament, match, rivalry, contention

2. struggle for victory or superiority.

   Synonyms:

   encounter, battle

3. vigorous or bitter conflict in argument; dispute; controversy.

   Their marriage was marred by perpetual contest.

   Synonyms:

   opposition, disagreement, difference, clash, altercation, antagonism, discord, strife

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verb (used with object)

1. to struggle or fight for, as in battle.

2. to argue against; dispute.

   to contest a controversial question;

   to contest a will.

   Synonyms:

   oppose, controvert

3. to call in question.

   They contested his right to speak.

   Synonyms:

   challenge

4. to contend for in rivalry.

   Synonyms:

   vie, compete, strive

verb (used without object)

1. to dispute; contend; compete.

contest British  

noun

1. a formal game or match in which two or more people, teams, etc, compete and attempt to win

2. a struggle for victory between opposing forces or interests

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verb

1. (tr) to try to disprove; call in question

2. to fight, dispute, or contend (with)

   contest an election

Related Words

See fight. See compete.

Other Word Forms

• contestable adjective
• contestableness noun
• contestably adverb
• contestation noun
• contester noun
• contestingly adverb
• precontest verb (used with object)
• recontest verb
• subcontest noun
• supercontest noun
• uncontestable adjective
• uncontestably adverb

Etymology

Origin of contest

First recorded in 1595–1605; (verb) from Latin contestāri “to call to witness (in a lawsuit),” equivalent to con- con- + testārī “to testify, ” derivative of testis witness; the noun is derivative of the verb, or is from French conteste

Example Sentences

If this were a contest, NordVPN would take the prize for speed.

From Salon

Washington has issued two documents, the latest on Monday, on reforming the WTO, contesting some of its fundamental rules.

From Barron's

The Bruins led the Lancers by just 10 points at the half of the first-round contest.

From Los Angeles Times

At the 2025 local elections, Reform won the largest number of seats of those contested in England and gained control of 10 councils – including Durham and Kent.

From BBC

"Our findings create an important foundation for a better understanding of functional processes in lysosomes and the function of the TMEM175 channel, which was contested before now," say the authors.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• challenge
• discussion
• game
• match
• meeting
• sport
• tournament
• trial