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

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

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

“If they think it’s a knowledge contest, it’s just a game you don’t want to play,” he said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Riot Women tells the tale of five menopausal women who form a punk rock band to take part in a local talent contest.

Read more on BBC

Legally speaking, you can contest a will or trust due to lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence from a family member, fraud, coercion, improper execution or if there was a newer will in existence.

Read more on MarketWatch

And over the course of the contest, enough players kept filing into the sideline blue medical tent that the team doctors could have used a waiting room.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

If anything, it’s gotten worse, with video clips being celebrated virally, as if we’re judging a never-ending contest to be the worst example of the species.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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