contest

[ noun kon-test; verb kuhn-test ]

noun

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

   Synonyms: game, tourney, tournament, rivalry, contention, match

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. whenintr, foll by with or against to fight, dispute, or contend (with)

   contest an election

Derived Forms

• conˈtestingly, adverb
• conˈtester, noun
• ˌcontesˈtation, noun
• conˈtestably, adverb
• conˈtestable, adjective
• conˈtestableness, noun

Other Words From

• 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

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

"Test matches against South Africa are always thrilling contests, and I'm sure Saturday will be no exception."

From BBC

The last time they had lost a City playoff contest was in 2011 when they fell to Cleveland 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

From Los Angeles Times

House of Representatives next year after defeating Democrat Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, in a hotly contested race to represent a Riverside County swing district.

From Los Angeles Times

“People say it all the time, but you can actually see it with ballot curing in these close contests.”

From Los Angeles Times

They earned more than £1m each for the first fight - the first women's contest to headline at New York's Madison Square Garden - and will again, deservedly, be rewarded with seven figures.

From BBC

Related Words

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