What does "contest" mean?
Controversy; debate.
Contest
/ˈkɑn.tɛst/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Controversy; debate.
- Grammar: contest is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: competition, abjure, academic dissent case, action.
- Useful contrasts: yaup, abstain, accept.
- Usage evidence: It is probable that he will win the speech contest.
How to use "contest"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "contest" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "contest" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "contest" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "contest" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "contest" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "competition" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "contest", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Controversy; debate. uncountable
"no contest"
- 2 a struggle between rivals wordnet
- 3 Struggle for superiority; combat. uncountable
- 4 an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants wordnet
- 5 A competition. countable
"The child entered the spelling contest."
Verb
- 1 To contend. intransitive
"I will contest for the open seat on the board."
- 2 to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation wordnet
- 3 To call into question; to oppose. transitive
"The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities."
- 4 To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend. transitive
"The troops contested every inch of ground."
- 5 To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"It is probable that he will win the speech contest."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "contest"?
Common synonyms include: competition, abjure, academic dissent case, action, agon, altercation.
How do you use "contest" in a sentence?
It is probable that he will win the speech contest.
How do you pronounce "contest"?
Pronounced /ˈkɑn.tɛst/.
Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From French contester, from Old French, from Latin contestor (“to call to witness”).