contest

noun

(countable) A competition.

(uncountable) Struggle for superiority; combat.

(uncountable) Controversy; debate.

verb

(intransitive) To contend.

(transitive) To call into question; to oppose.

(transitive) To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.

(law) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law.

Roots

testis-test · Latin · witness

Synonyms for contest

competitionn contendv tournamentn rivalryn contestationn challengen tourneyn dueln joustn championshipn battlen

Synonyms & related words for contest

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of contest — including competition, contend, tournament, rivalry, contestation, challenge. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to contest

Explore words related to contest — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include repugn, sweepstakes, compete, brabble, winner, contestant, vying, wins. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for contest

Common synonyms for contest include competition, contend, tournament, rivalry, contestation, challenge, tourney, duel — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does contest come from?

The word contest breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root -test, from Latin testis (“witness”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.