contest

American  

[kon-test, kuhn-test] / ˈkɒn tɛst, kənˈtɛst /

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

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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 British  

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

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verb

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

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

   contest an election

Related Words

See fight. See compete.

Other Word Forms

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

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

Example Sentences

But a contest in a south-east corner of Greater Manchester - the Gorton and Denton by-election - is taking place at the end of this month and could be just as perilous for the PM.

From BBC

“It’s a dream. I beat the odds. Every year I watched the dunk contest and I learned from all the people before me.”

From Los Angeles Times

Burnham is also trying to use the city's sporting cachet to attract the globe's biggest contests.

From BBC

When the Lakers faced Kidd’s Mavericks on Thursday night, James was back in the lab early getting his body ready for the contest and he did so about six hours before game time.

From Los Angeles Times

Sweden skip Niklas Edin raised it with the officials between the second and third ends and the row quietly simmered away as the contest unfolded.

From BBC

Related Words

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