contest

[ noun kon-test; verb kuhn-test ]

/ noun ˈkɒn tɛst; verb kənˈtɛst /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contest ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

struggle for victory or superiority.

strife in argument; dispute; controversy: Their marriage was marred by perpetual contest.

verb (used with object)

to struggle or fight for, as in battle.

to argue against; dispute: to contest a controversial question; to contest a will.

to call in question: They contested his right to speak.

to contend for in rivalry.

verb (used without object)

to dispute; contend; compete.

Nearby words

contently, contentment, contents, conterminous, contessa, contest, contestant, contestation, contested, contex, context

Origin of contest

1595–1605; (v.) < Latin contestāri to call to witness (in a lawsuit), equivalent to con- con- + testārī to testify, derivative of testis witness; (noun) derivative of the v., or < French conteste

SYNONYMS FOR contest

1 contention, rivalry, match, tournament, tourney, game.

2 battle, encounter.

3 debate, polemic, altercation.

5 controvert, oppose.

6 challenge.

7 strive, compete, vie.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contest ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

con·test·a·ble, adjectivecon·test·a·ble·ness, nouncon·test·a·bly, adverbcon·test·er, noun

con·test·ing·ly, adverbpre·con·test, verb (used with object)pre·con·test, nounre·con·test, verbsub·con·test, nounsu·per·con·test, nounsu·per·con·test, verb (used with object)un·con·test·a·ble, adjectiveun·con·test·a·bly, adverbun·con·test·ed, adjectiveun·con·test·ed·ly, adverbwell-con·test·ed, adjective

Can be confusedcontend contest

Synonym study

2. See fight. 4. See compete.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contest

Judging the contest are four prominent figures in the adult entertainment business with years of experience.
Inside ‘The Sex Factor’: Where 16 Men and Women Vie For Porn Immortality|Aurora Snow|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1998, she was selected to represent Israel in the prestigious Eurovision contest, winning first place.
Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos|Itay Hod|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And as for Landrieu, as I said, it seems to look still as if her contest is headed to a run-off.
Why You Can’t Tell the Truth About Race|Michael Tomasky|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Despite these financial disadvantages, Grimes has kept the contest fairly close.
Mystery Man Buys Kentucky for the GOP|Center for Public Integrity|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But before the national pundits and prognosticators write off the Kentucky contest, they should hold their horses.
Those Alison Lundergan Grimes Obituaries Were Premature—She’s Hanging On|Jonathan Miller|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They scramble at their meals; and the one that is not able to contest for his share is certain to get the least.
The Dog|Dinks, Mayhew, and Hutchinson
Sir Robert was forced to give up the contest and be shelved with a peerage.
The Wits and Beaux of Society|Grace & Philip Wharton
But Harvard held well, and the contest was a fairly even one for twenty minutes.
The Patient Observer|Simeon Strunsky
A patentee who assigns his patent cannot, when sued for infringement, contest the validity thereof.
Practical Pointers for Patentees|Franklin Cresee
In a contest like this, will she allow herself to be vanquished?
Jane Talbot|Charles Brockden Brown

British Dictionary definitions for contest

contest

noun (ˈkɒntɛst)

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

a struggle for victory between opposing forces or interests

verb (kənˈtɛst)

(tr) to try to disprove; call in question

(when intr, foll by with or against) to fight, dispute, or contend (with)contest an election

Derived Forms

contestable, adjectivecontestableness or contestability, nouncontestably, adverbcontestation, noun

contester, nouncontestingly, adverb

Word Origin for contest

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for contest (1 of 2)

contest

c.1600, from French contester "dispute, oppose," from Middle French, from Latin contestari (litem) "to call to witness, bring action," from com- "together" (see com-) + testari "to bear witness," from testis "a witness," (see testament). Calling witnesses as the first step in a legal combat. Related: Contestable; contested; contesting.

Word Origin and History for contest (1 of 2)

contest

1640s, from contest (v.).

contest

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of contest

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for contest

British Dictionary definitions for contest

contest

noun (ˈkɒntɛst)

verb (kənˈtɛst)

Word Origin for contest

Word Origin and History for contest (1 of 2)

contest

Word Origin and History for contest (1 of 2)

contest