Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense contests, present participle contesting, past tense, past participle contestedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (kɒntest). The verb is pronounced (kəntest).
1. countable noun
A contest is a competition or game in which people try to win.
Few contests in the recent history of British boxing have been as thrilling.
...a writing contest.
Synonyms: competition, game, match, trial More Synonyms of contest
2. See also beauty contest
3. countable noun
A contest is a struggle to win power or control.
The state election due in November will be the last such ballot before next year'spresidential contest.
...a clear contest between church and state. [+ between]
4. verb
If someone contests an election or competition, they take part in it and try to win it.
[mainly British]
He quickly won his party's nomination to contest the elections. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: compete in, take part in, fight in, go in for More Synonyms of contest
5. verb
If you contest a statement or decision, you object to it formally because you think it is wrong or unreasonable.
Your former employer has to reply within 14 days in order to contest the case. [VERB noun]
Gender discrimination is a hotly-contested issue. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: oppose, question, challenge, argue More Synonyms of contest
More Synonyms of contest
contest in British English
noun (ˈkɒntɛst)
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 (kənˈtɛst)
3. (transitive)
to try to disprove; call in question
4. (whenintr, foll by with or against)
to fight, dispute, or contend (with)
contest an election
Derived forms
contestable (conˈtestable)
adjective
contestableness (conˈtestableness) or contestability (conˌtestaˈbility)
noun
contestably (conˈtestably)
adverb
contestation (ˌcontesˈtation)
noun
contester (conˈtester)
noun
contestingly (conˈtestingly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin contestārī to introduce a lawsuit, from testis witness
contest in American English
(kənˈtɛst; for n. ˈkɑnˌtɛst)
verb transitive
1.
to try to disprove or invalidate (something) as by argument or legal action; dispute
to contest a will
2.
to fight for (ground, a military position, etc.); struggle to win or keep
verb intransitive
3.
to contend; struggle (with or against)
noun
4.
a fight, struggle, conflict, or controversy
5.
any race, game, debate, etc. in which individuals or teams compete with one another to determine the winner
SIMILAR WORDS: conˈflict
Derived forms
contestable (conˈtestable)
adjective
contester (conˈtester)
noun
Word origin
Fr contester < L contestari, to call to witness, bring action < com-, together + testari, to bear witness < testis, a witness: see testify
COBUILD Collocations
contest
tight contest
Examples of 'contest' in a sentence
contest
The contest for control began at once.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
The remaining two races are contested today.
The Sun (2015)
His widow has asked us to make clear he was contesting the charges.
The Sun (2014)
Wales have always been in contests with the best that rugby can offer.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The double punishment was harsh and killed the game as a contest.
The Sun (2012)
So he may as well look good by calling for a contest.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Whether resentment of this is fair is irrelevant in an election contest.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The site has been closely contested recently.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The moon links luck and a contest to win a holiday.
The Sun (2010)
Her endorsement tipped the balance in nomination contest after nomination contest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This was as fiercely contested a match as any international could be.
The Sun (2010)
This race is always fiercely contested but a high draw is a massive help.
The Sun (2009)
His goal signalled the end of the game as a contest.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Last month he called for the contest to be suspended because of suspected infiltration.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The company had not contested the tax when it had been served with bills and had not appealed against those bills.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Negotiations to clear the way for him to contest the elections included the granting of bail in three cases against him.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Groves has become a massive household name after his two contests with Froch.
The Sun (2014)
Let's hope the judges agree when she contests the charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Atlantic City provides the setting for the story of two brothers who enter the biggest mixed martial arts contest in history.
The Sun (2011)
Just make sure that management understands your position of not fighting the contests, but not letting them destroy your effectiveness either.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
It was about competition: about contest, rivalry and battle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The selection contest had been due to take place last night but has been postponed after a row between local members and the party's central command.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
contest
British English: contest /ˈkɒntɛst/ NOUN
A contest is a competition or game.
...a writing contest.
American English: contest
Arabic: مُسَابَقَة
Brazilian Portuguese: competição
Chinese: 论争
Croatian: natjecanje
Czech: soutěž
Danish: konkurrence
Dutch: wedstrijd
European Spanish: concurso
Finnish: kilpailu
French: concours
German: Wettbewerb
Greek: διαγωνισμός
Italian: gara
Japanese: 競争
Korean: 경연 경쟁
Norwegian: konkurranse
Polish: konkurs
European Portuguese: competição
Romanian: concurs
Russian: соревнование
Latin American Spanish: contienda
Swedish: tävling
Thai: การแข่งขัน
Turkish: yarışma
Ukrainian: змагання
Vietnamese: cuộc thi
British English: contest VERB
If you contest a statement or decision, you object to it formally because you think it is wrong or unreasonable.
Your former employer has to reply within 14 days in order to contest the case.
American English: contest
Brazilian Portuguese: contestar
Chinese: 对…提出抗辩
European Spanish: rebatir
French: contester
German: anfechten
Italian: contestare
Japanese: 異議を唱える
Korean: 이의를 제기하다
European Portuguese: contestar
Latin American Spanish: rebatir
All related terms of 'contest'
tight contest
A contest is a competition or game in which people try to win.
beauty contest
A beauty contest is a competition in which young women are judged to decide which one is the most beautiful .
talent contest
a contest in which people compete by showcasing their talents , for example in singing , dancing , acrobatics , etc
knockout contest
used to describe a competition in which competitors are eliminated progressively
contest an allegation
An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong .
Eurovision Song Contest
an annual singing competition broadcast on live television and participated in by European countries who are members of the European Broadcasting Union. Each country submits one song and the other countries cast votes on the song to determine the winner .
Chinese translation of 'contest'
contest
(nˈkɔntɛst; vbkənˈtɛst)
n(c)
(= competition) 比赛(賽) (bǐsài) (项, xiàng)
(for control, power etc) 竞(競)争(爭) (jìngzhēng)
vt
[statement, decision]反驳(駁) (fǎnbó)
(esp Brit)[election, competition]角逐 (juézhú)
to contest sb's will对(對)某人的遗(遺)嘱(囑)提出质(質)疑 (duì mǒurén de yízhǔ tíchū zhìyí)
1 (noun)
Definition
a game or match in which people or teams compete
Few contests in the recent history of British boxing have been as thrilling.
Synonyms
competition
He will be banned from international competitions for four years.
game
We won three games against Australia.
match
He was watching a football match.
trial
New evidence showed that he lied at the trial.
tournament
Here is a player capable of winning a world tournament.
head-to-head
2 (noun)
Definition
a struggle for power or control
a bitter contest over who should control the state's future
Synonyms
struggle
I broke my wrist in the struggle.
fight
The referee stopped the fight in the second round.
battle
a renewed political battle over public health care
debate
There has been a lot of debate about this point.
conflict
The National Security Council has met to discuss ways of preventing a military conflict.
dispute
There has been much dispute over the ownership of the lease.
encounter
They were arrested after a chance encounter with security forces near the border.
controversy
The proposed cuts have caused considerable controversy.
combat
Over 16 million men died in combat during the war.
discord
He foments discord among the allies.
turf war (informal)
1 (verb)
Definition
to take part in (a contest or struggle for power)
He quickly won his party's nomination to contest the elections.
Synonyms
compete in
take part in
fight in
go in for
contend for
vie in
2 (verb)
Definition
to dispute
Your former employer has to reply within 14 days in order to contest the case.
Synonyms
oppose
Mr Taylor was bitter towards those who had opposed him.
question
It never occurs to them to question the doctor's decisions.
challenge
The move was immediately challenged by the opposition.
argue
His lawyers are arguing that he is unfit to stand trial.
debate
The causes of depression are much debated.
dispute
He disputed the allegations.
object to
litigate
call in or into question
Additional synonyms
in the sense of argue
Definition
to try to prove by presenting reasons
His lawyers are arguing that he is unfit to stand trial.
Synonyms
claim,
question,
reason,
challenge,
insist,
maintain,
hold,
allege,
plead,
assert,
contend,
uphold,
profess,
remonstrate (formal),
expostulate
in the sense of battle
Definition
conflict or struggle
a renewed political battle over public health care
Synonyms
conflict,
campaign,
struggle,
debate,
clash,
dispute,
contest,
controversy,
disagreement,
crusade,
strife,
head-to-head,
agitation
in the sense of challenge
Definition
to call (a decision or action) into question
The move was immediately challenged by the opposition.