contest

[ noun kon-test; verb kuhn-test ]

See synonyms for: contest contested contesting contests on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

vigorous or bitter conflict 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.

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

synonym study For contest

2. See fight. 4. See compete.

Other words for contest

1	contention, rivalry, match, tournament, tourney, game
2	battle, encounter
3	strife, discord, antagonism, altercation; clash, difference, disagreement, opposition
5	controvert, oppose
6	challenge
8	strive, compete, vie

See synonyms for contest on Thesaurus.com

Other words from contest

con·test·a·ble, adjective
con·test·a·ble·ness, noun
con·test·a·bly, adverb
con·test·er, noun
con·test·ing·ly, adverb
pre·con·test, verb (used with object)
pre·con·test, noun
re·con·test, verb
sub·con·test, noun
su·per·con·test, noun
su·per·con·test, verb (used with object)
un·con·test·a·ble, adjective
un·con·test·a·bly, adverb

Words that may be confused with contest

contend, contest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use contest in a sentence

Running a hashtag contest on Instagram, asking intriguing questions by creating polls and quizzes are also great ways to create user-generated content.
Harness the power of integrated CRO and social media | Ricky Wang | November 17, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
The startup’s last application they shipped, “Finger on the App” launched a huge online contest that ended after multiple winners who spent several days with their finger sitting on their phone screen.
MSCHF’s Push Party raises an unconventional seed round at a $200 million valuation | Lucas Matney | November 9, 2020 | TechCrunch
The uncertainty has delayed our own reader contest, but we should again thank everyone who sent us their picks.
Morning Report: Voters Sent a Message on Housing Solutions | Voice of San Diego | November 5, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
It could be some time before the result of the close contest for the US presidency becomes clear.
Post-election uncertainty is bad for the economy | Marc Bain | November 4, 2020 | Quartz
The change could diminish the role special interests, particularly the teachers union, play in those contests.
2020 May Be the Last Cake Walk for Union-Backed School Board Candidates | Will Huntsberry | November 4, 2020 | Voice of San Diego

“The regime just decided to stop contesting parts of the country,” Holliday says.
Syria’s Bashar Al-Assad is Winning | Mike Giglio | May 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
While he is not contesting the Jan. 22 election, Olmert remains politically active.
Explosive Allegations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | Dan Ephron | January 16, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Now, I begin with the states that are automatic Democratic states—states where neither candidate is even contesting matters.
Michael Tomasky Makes His Election 2012 Predictions | Michael Tomasky | November 6, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Like Sarkozy, Hollande has been contesting elections since his 20s.
Can Sarkozy Survive? | Tracy McNicoll | October 17, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
No one in Al Qaeda is publicly contesting his selection or denying his authority.
Al Qaeda’s Ominous Silence | Bruce Riedel | July 11, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
He looked up from his fish and replied, somewhat cuttingly, "By contesting a borough and getting elected."
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
Then silence fell upon the contesting hosts as the Angel of Mercy appeared before the throne of grace on bended knees.
Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala | Various
Mr. Webster was one of their foremost opponents in this, contesting their right to do it under the Constitution.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume XII | John Lord
At last in 1908 the time seemed to have come for contesting a parliamentary election.
The Evolution of Sinn Fein | Robert Mitchell Henry
Coligny's forces had lost the ground which they had been contesting inch by inch about a raised causeway.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots | Henry Baird

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

Origin of contest

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

Derived forms of contest

contestable, adjective
contestableness or contestability, noun
contestably, adverb
contestation, noun
contester, noun
contestingly, adverb

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

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