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

This contest comes little more than a month before the highly anticipated Ashes tour, and England named three of their squad to face Australia in the XI at the Hagley Oval.

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Having started as a campaign, Operation Dudula, which has, at times, been accused of using force to make its point, is now a political party with ambitions to contest next year's local government elections.

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There are not many sports that can keep an audience enraptured through 45 minutes of ceremony before the first point is even contested.

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A lengthy downpour 12 overs into the match had looked set to result in a fourth washout at R Premadasa Stadium but the rain stopped just in time for a 20-over contest to take place.

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There is also an election on the horizon and oil and gas is likely to be a key campaigning point in north east Scotland, where seats are chiefly contested between the SNP and the Conservatives.

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Related Words

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