contest

con·test

Use contest in a sentence

noun

The definition of a contest is an event in which people compete to be considered the winner or to win some prize or recognition.
An example of a contest is a competitive game where people try to guess the number of beans in a jar, or a competitive game where people try to throw a ball the farthest.

verb

To contest is to dispute or fight for something.
When you argue that someone has made an incorrect or bad conclusion, this is an example of contest.

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"contest." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contest>.

APA Style

contest. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contest

contest

to try to disprove or invalidate (something) as by argument or legal action; dispute: to contest a will
to fight for (ground, a military position, etc.); struggle to win or keep

Origin of contest

French contester from Classical Latin contestari, to call to witness, bring action from com-, together + testari, to bear witness from testis, a witness: see testify

to contend; struggle (with or against)

a fight, struggle, conflict, or controversy
any race, game, debate, etc. in which individuals or teams compete with one another to determine the winner

contest Idioms

no contest

Law nolo contendere
a match or competition in which one side easily dominates

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MLA Style

"contest." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contest>.

APA Style

contest. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contest

contest

noun

A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals: England's contest with Spain for domination of the seas.
A competition, especially one in which entrants perform separately and are rated by judges: a spelling contest.

verb

con·test·ed, con·test·ing, con·tests

verb

transitive

To compete or strive for; struggle to gain or control: trade routes that were contested by competing cultures.
To call into question and take an active stand against; dispute or challenge: contest a will. See Synonyms at oppose.
Sports To defend against (a shot), as in basketball.

verb

intransitive

To struggle or compete; contend: contested with other bidders for the antique.

Origin of contest

Probably from French conteste from contester to dispute from Old French to call to witness from Latin contestārī com- com- testis witness ; see trei- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

con·test′a·ble
adjective

con′tes·ta′tion
noun

con·test′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"contest." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contest>.

APA Style

contest. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contest

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural contests)

(uncountable) Controversy; debate.
no contest
(uncountable) Struggle for superiority; combat.
(countable) A competition.
The child entered the spelling contest.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present contests, present participle contesting, simple past and past participle contested)

(intransitive) To contend.
I will contest for the open seat on the board.
To call into question; to oppose.
The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities.
To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.
The troops contested every inch of ground.
(law) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law; to controvert.