contest

1 of 2

verb

con·​test kən-ˈtest  ˈkän-ˌtest 

contested; contesting; contests

intransitive verb

: strive, vie

contested for power

transitive verb

: to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation

especially : dispute, challenge

The deceased's relatives are contesting his will.

contestable

kən-ˈte-stə-bəl 

adjective

contester noun

contest

2 of 2

noun

con·​test ˈkän-ˌtest 

1

: a struggle for superiority or victory : competition

a football contest between rival teams

2

: a competition in which each contestant performs without direct contact with or interference from competitors

He won the contest for best photograph.

Synonyms

Verb

• challenge
• question

Noun

• competition
• rivalry
• battle
• duel
• struggle
• contention
• warfare
• confrontation
• war
• conflict
• match

Examples of contest in a Sentence

Verb

She plans to contest a seat in Congress next year.

Both candidates have agreed to another debate before this hotly contested election.

Noun

Contest winners receive a cash prize.

Will you enter the contest?

She hopes to win the contest for mayor.

Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a contest for control of the House of Representatives.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Monarez's ouster, which her attorneys have contested, came less than one month after the Senate confirmed her to the role. —Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025

The removal of Monarez is currently contested. —Mikelle Street, Them., 28 Aug. 2025

Noun

Sinner had similar problems here and came into the contest with a 57 percent reading. —Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

With less than two months out to Election Day, this year's elections -- ranging from hot-button mayoral and gubernatorial contests to a vote over new congressional maps -- are set to ramp up as candidates begin to make their final pitches to voters. —Grace Sandman, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French contester "to debate, make the subject of dispute," earlier "to refuse to recognize a right or claim," probably borrowed from Old Occitan contestar, borrowed from Latin contestārī "to call to witness," in the phrase lītem contestārī (with līt-, līs "dispute at law") "to join issue in a legal suit," from con- con- + -testārī, verbal derivative of testis "witness" — more at testament

Noun

derivative of contest entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1603, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contest

• beauty contest
• no contest
• popularity contest

Kids Definition

contest

1 of 2 verb

con·​test kən-ˈtest  ˈkän-ˌtest 

: to make (something) a cause of dispute or fighting

contest a claim

contest

2 of 2 noun

con·​test ˈkän-ˌtest 

: a struggle for victory : competition

Legal Definition

contest

1 of 2 transitive verb

con·​test kən-ˈtest 

: to dispute or challenge through legal procedures

contest a will

contest

2 of 2 noun

con·​test ˈkän-ˌtest 

: a challenge brought through formal or legal procedures

boundary controversies or other contests between states

—Felix Frankfurter

specifically : will contest see also no contest clause