First Known Use: 1603
Dictionary
1contest
verb con·test \kən-ˈtest, ˈkän-ˌ\
: to make (something) the subject of an argument or a legal case : to say that you do not agree with or accept (something)
: to try to win (something)
: to struggle or fight for or against something
Full Definition of CONTEST
intransitive verb
transitive verb
: to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation; especially : dispute, challenge
— con·test·able \-ˈtes-tə-bəl\ adjective
— con·test·er noun
See contest defined for English-language learners
See contest defined for kids
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Origin of CONTEST
Middle French contester, from Latin contestari (litem) to bring an action at law, from contestari to call to witness, from com- + testis witness — more at testament
Related to CONTEST
Rhymes with CONTEST
abreast, abscessed, appressed, armrest, arrest, at best, at rest, attest, backrest, beau geste, bed rest, behest, bequest, blood test, congest, conquest, crow's nest, depressed, detest, devest, digest, distressed, divest, egest, eighth rest, field-test, flight-test, footrest, gabfest, half rest, hard-pressed, headrest, high-test, hillcrest, hope chest, houseguest, imprest, incest, infest, ingest, inquest, interest, invest, Key West, lovefest, love nest, Mae West, mare's nest, Midwest, molest, northwest, patch test, posttest, pretest, professed, protest, redbreast, repressed, request, revest, road test, scratch test, screen test, sea chest, skin test, slop chest, slugfest, southwest, spot test, steam chest, stress test, suggest, Trieste, t-test, unblessed, undressed, unrest, unstressed, war chest, whole rest, Wild West
2contest
noun con·test \ˈkän-ˌtest\
: an event in which people try to win by doing something better than others
: a struggle or effort to win or get something
Full Definition of CONTEST
1
: a struggle for superiority or victory : competition
2
: a competition in which each contestant performs without direct contact with or interference from competitors
See contest defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CONTEST
1630
Related to CONTEST
- Synonyms
- ball game, battle, combat, competition, conflict, confrontation, contention, dogfight, duel, face-off, grapple, match, rivalry, strife, struggle, sweepstakes (also sweep-stake), tug-of-war, war, warfare
CONTEST Defined for Kids
1contest
noun con·test \ˈkän-ˌtest\
Definition of CONTEST for Kids
: a struggle for victory : competition <a pie baking contest>
2contest
verb con·test \kən-ˈtest\
con·test·edcon·test·ing
Definition of CONTEST for Kids
: to make (something) a cause of dispute or fighting <They will contest a claim to the fortune.>
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