contest
//ˈkɒn.tɛst//
Forms
- Plural
- contests
- present (v1)
- contest
- past (v2)
- contested
- past participle (v3)
- contested
- present participle
- contesting
- 3rd person singular
- contests
Definitions
1.Controversy; debate.
2.Struggle for superiority; combat.
3.A competition.
- The child entered the spelling contest.
1.To contend.
- Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest?
- I will contest for the open seat on the board.
2.To call into question; to oppose.
- The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities.
- Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequently repeated, few more contested than this.
3.To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.
- The troops contested every inch of ground.
4.To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3012
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
PIE word
*tréyes
From French contester, from Old French, from Latin contestor (“to call to witness”).