Contest meaning

kŏn'tĕst'
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.

noun
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(uncountable) Struggle for superiority; combat.
noun
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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.

verb
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A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals.

England's contest with Spain for domination of the seas.

noun
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A competition, especially one in which entrants perform separately and are rated by judges.

A spelling contest.

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To compete or strive for; struggle to gain or control.

Trade routes that were contested by competing cultures.

verb
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To call into question and take an active stand against; dispute or challenge.

Contest a will.

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To defend against (a shot), as in basketball.
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To struggle or compete; contend.

Contested with other bidders for the antique.

verb
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To try to disprove or invalidate (something) as by argument or legal action; dispute.

To contest a will.

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To fight for (ground, a military position, etc.); struggle to win or keep.
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To contend; struggle (with or against)
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A fight, struggle, conflict, or controversy.
noun
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Any race, game, debate, etc. in which individuals or teams compete with one another to determine the winner.
noun
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(uncountable) Controversy; debate.

No contest.

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(countable) A competition.

The child entered the spelling contest.

noun
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(intransitive) To contend.

I will contest for the open seat on the board.

verb
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To call into question; to oppose.

The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities.

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To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.

The troops contested every inch of ground.

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(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.
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no contest
  • nolo contendere.
  • A match or competition in which one side easily dominates.
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Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

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 trei- in Indo-European roots
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From French contester, from Old French, from Latin contestor (“to call to witness”)
    From Wiktionary

Contest Sentence Examples

  • None of us would win a beauty contest, would we?

  • What is this, a contest between you guys?

  • The contest and punishment of Marsyas were favourite subjects in Greek art, both painting and sculpture.

  • It was hard to say whether Alex was withholding facts so she couldn't contest his decisions or simply because he thought she did not need to know.

  • The period from 1790 to 1835 was marked by a prolonged contest between the eastern and the western counties.

More sentences →

Also Mentioned In

Words near contest in the Dictionary