contest
Americannoun
-
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)
verb (used without object)
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
Related Words
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Like special elections, midterm contests tend to turn out fewer but more engaged voters than presidential years.
From Salon
The Briton came into the contest after the first defeat of his 11-fight career against Charles Johnson in August, but took control in the early stages against Moreno.
From BBC
The pair dance together in a contest near the end of the video, with Reynolds appearing as one of the judges.
From BBC
In January 2026, the firms moved the Supreme Court to contest the fine.
From BBC
And don't forget by-elections are strange beasts, where smaller parties can concentrate time and resources in ways they simply can't do in a bigger contest.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
