contest

[ noun kon-test; verb kuhn-test ]

/ noun ˈkɒn tɛst; verb kənˈtɛst /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contest ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

struggle for victory or superiority.

strife 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.

Nearby words

contently, contentment, contents, conterminous, contessa, contesting, contestant, contestation, contested, contex, context

Origin of contest

1595–1605; (v.) < Latin contestāri to call to witness (in a lawsuit), equivalent to con- con- + testārī to testify, derivative of testis witness; (noun) derivative of the v., or < French conteste

SYNONYMS FOR contest

1 contention, rivalry, match, tournament, tourney, game.

2 battle, encounter.

3 debate, polemic, altercation.

5 controvert, oppose.

6 challenge.

7 strive, compete, vie.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contest ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

con·test·a·ble, adjectivecon·test·a·ble·ness, nouncon·test·a·bly, adverbcon·test·er, noun

con·test·ing·ly, adverbpre·con·test, verb (used with object)pre·con·test, nounre·con·test, verbsub·con·test, nounsu·per·con·test, nounsu·per·con·test, verb (used with object)un·con·test·a·ble, adjectiveun·con·test·a·bly, adverbun·con·test·ed, adjectiveun·con·test·ed·ly, adverbwell-con·test·ed, adjective

Can be confusedcontend contest

Synonym study

2. See fight. 4. See compete.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contesting

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|DAILY BEAST
Like Sarkozy, Hollande has been contesting elections since his 20s.
Can Sarkozy Survive?|Tracy McNicoll|October 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
This was, ultimately, a naked power struggle between two opposite poles with contesting visions of an Islamic republic.
The Thugs Who Lead Iran's Supreme Leader|Gary Sick|June 27, 2009|DAILY BEAST
But as regards property in services, far from contesting it, he adopts it as his creed.
Harmonies of Political Economy|Frdric Bastiat

Who ever thought of contesting seriously the superiority of Exchange to Isolation?
Harmonies of Political Economy|Frdric Bastiat
However, I never for a moment entertained the thought of contesting M. Noel Gerdy's rights.
The Widow Lerouge|Emile Gaboriau
He went over the possibilities of his contesting Mr. Samuel Million's will.
Miss Million's Maid|Bertha Ruck
I went in with Mr. Hodgkinson, who is contesting this Division; he is quite young and wears an eyeglass, which he keeps dropping.
The Visits of Elizabeth|Elinor Glyn

British Dictionary definitions for contesting

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

Derived Forms

contestable, adjectivecontestableness or contestability, nouncontestably, adverbcontestation, noun

contester, nouncontestingly, adverb

Word Origin for contest

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

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

Word Origin and History for contesting (1 of 2)

contest

c.1600, from French contester "dispute, oppose," from Middle French, from Latin contestari (litem) "to call to witness, bring action," from com- "together" (see com-) + testari "to bear witness," from testis "a witness," (see testament). Calling witnesses as the first step in a legal combat. Related: Contestable; contested; contesting.

Word Origin and History for contesting (1 of 2)

contest

1640s, from contest (v.).

contest

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of contest

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for contesting

British Dictionary definitions for contesting

contest

noun (ˈkɒntɛst)

verb (kənˈtɛst)

Word Origin for contest

Word Origin and History for contesting (1 of 2)

contest

Word Origin and History for contesting (1 of 2)

contest