contest
Americannoun
-
contests
plural
-
a race, conflict, or other competition between rivals, as for a prize.
- Synonyms:
- game, tourney, tournament, match, rivalry, contention
-
struggle for victory or superiority.
-
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)
-
contests,
present (3rd person singular)
-
contested,
past participle, past
-
contesting
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
contests,
present (3rd person singular)
-
contested,
past participle, past
-
contesting
present participle
noun
-
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
-
(tr) to try to disprove; call in question
-
to fight, dispute, or contend (with)
contest an election
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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contestablenessnoun
-
contestationnoun
-
contesternoun
-
precontestnoun
-
subcontestnoun
-
supercontestnoun
-
recontestverb
-
precontestverb (used with object)
-
supercontestverb (used with object)
-
contestableadjective
-
uncontestableadjective
-
contestablyadverb
-
contestinglyadverb
-
uncontestablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
contestsimple
-
contestssimple
-
have contestedperfect
-
has contestedperfect
-
am contestingprogressive
-
are contestingprogressive
-
is contestingprogressive
-
have been contestingperfect progressive
-
has been contestingperfect progressive
Past
-
contestedsimple
-
had contestedperfect
-
was contestingprogressive
-
were contestingprogressive
-
had been contestingperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
A contest is a struggle to determine who's tops –- you might wrestle an alligator in a contest of brute strength versus strategy. You can also enter a contest — a yodeling contest or a cake-decorating contest, depending on your talents. If you're being sued and you respond to the court order saying "no contest," you're saying you're not going to put up a fight. When you put the accent on the second syllable, contest becomes a verb, and it means to dispute something. You lost the election for class president, but you think there was something fishy going on at the ballot box, so you contest the results and ask for a recount.
Vocabulary lists containing contest
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Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address (1801)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Schumer traveled to Biden’s Rehoboth Beach home to urge him to leave the contest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2026
England made hay in 2025 with tactics and personnel designed to exploit a change in the kick-chase laws, outlawing defences running blocking lines and opening up the aerial contest.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
This was not a contest between Jews and Muslims—exit polls suggested that a majority of Jewish voters backed El-Sayed.
From Slate ● Nov. 13, 2026
On Saturday, the biggest and longest-running international song contest will make a leap into unknown territory.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
"Want to work on our entries for the art contest?" he asked, changing the subject.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
He was reliably supportive of the leads as they grappled with the mix of wacky contests, fantasy suites, exotic locations and over-the-top drama on the show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026
"This is what makes Eurovision in Europe special from other song contests."
From Barron's ● Nov. 8, 2026
The Jets had gone winless in their previous nine contests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
Additionally, candidates can file legal election contests alleging irregularities.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
When they fought with mace or blunted longaxe, Ser Rolly’s greater size and strength would quickly overwhelm his charge; with swords the contests were more even.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
"The underlying calculation appears to be that, so long as Muhoozi controls the SFC, he can use it to capture power even in an event of a contested transition," he says.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026
Operations were allowed to continue at the three contested North Sea fields while the energy ministry appealed the rulings.
From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2026
Kang and Shanghai Hexi contested the regulator’s findings during official hearings, but the regulator rejected their argument.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
Black candidates made historic inroads in statewide elections for offices like the Senate, which are not affected by redrawing individual district maps; and in the House, Black candidates won many contested seats, gerrymandering be damned.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026
“Ah, boy, you’re in an ugly fight, you are. A bit of a contested leadership right now in the shipping clan.”
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
“The first step in contesting a will is to file a petition in the Surrogate’s Court,” it says.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
Fourteen electoral lists are contesting the election, but polls indicate only seven are likely to clear the five-percent threshold needed to enter parliament.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
The couple is contesting the IRS’s claims in tax court, arguing their financial moves align with standard industry practices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
The lane draft: Athletes contesting the 200m will take part in a lane draft, selecting their preferred semi-final heat and lane in world rankings order.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Nothing much happened in court, other than Du Bois announcing his plans to file a motion contesting the decision to try Richard as an adult.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
