contest

[kon-test, kuhn-test]

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

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

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

verb

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

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

   contest an election

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of contest¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of contest¹

C16: from Latin contestārī to introduce a lawsuit, from testis witness

Synonym Study

See fight. See compete.

Example Sentences

The Thai-Cambodia conflict flared over a smattering of border temples, contested because of a vague territorial demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907.

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Oklahoma City tightened a grip on the contest after a so-so first half.

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Calling the fight a no contest means the referee deemed the foul accidental rather than intentional, which would have resulted in a disqualification.

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This was a contest Labour did not want and its outcome was so underplayed us reporters were not even let in to watch it.

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"A really tight contest in some tough conditions," said Champion de Crespigny.

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Related Words

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