contest

1 of 2

verb

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 adjective
contester noun

contest

2 of 2

noun

con·​test ˈkän-ˌtest How to pronounce contest (audio)
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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
More than 500 teams competed in the two-day meet with 52 races contested. Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 21 Sep. 2025 The ban on camping on Fremont city streets was supposed to go into effect on March 13, but was paused at the recommendation of a federal judge, which city leaders did not contest. Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
Participate in a logsawing contest and win the infamous wagon of cheer. Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Sep. 2025 O’Connor was a columnist at various major outlets who earned multiple first-place finishes in contests run by the Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Press Sports Editors, Pro Football Writers of America, and Golf Writers Association of America. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contest

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of contest was in 1603

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contest. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

contest

1 of 2 verb
: to make (something) a cause of dispute or fighting
contest a claim

contest

2 of 2 noun
con·​test ˈkän-ˌtest How to pronounce contest (audio)
: a struggle for victory : competition

Legal Definition

contest

1 of 2 transitive verb
con·​test kən-ˈtest How to pronounce contest (audio)
: to dispute or challenge through legal procedures
contest a will

contest

2 of 2 noun
con·​test ˈkän-ˌtest How to pronounce contest (audio)
: a challenge brought through formal or legal procedures
boundary controversies or other contests between statesFelix Frankfurter
specifically : will contest see also no contest clause

More from Merriam-Webster on contest

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