contest

[kon-test, kuhn-test]

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

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. to fight, dispute, or contend (with)

   contest an election

Other Word Forms

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

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

However, the panel said he did not contest the issuance of the public admonishment.

From Los Angeles Times

If she resigns as the party's deputy leader, a contest to replace her would begin.

From BBC

Though not nearly as one-sided as the hammering at Headingley on Tuesday, a five-run margin did not reflect the nature of the contest.

From BBC

The election came the day after Guyanese police said that a boat carrying election officials and ballot boxes was "shot at from the Venezuelan shore" - in the contested Essequibo region.

From BBC

California is physically immense, too, stretching approximately 800 miles from north to south, which makes costly advertising the only realistic way to communicate in a statewide top-of-the-ticket contest.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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