contest
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A struggle between rivals.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
kahntestSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈkɑntɛst
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A struggle between rivals
uncountable
Struggle for superiority; combat.
countable
A competition.
uncountable
Controversy; debate.
verb
transitive
To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.
transitive
To call into question; to oppose.
intransitive
To contend.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A2 · Elementary (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
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How this word commonly comes across.
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More ways to use contest
- “They contested the outcome of the race.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
Disputed or made the object of contention or competition.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A contest in which you are eliminated if you fail to spell a word correctly.
A series of competing bids.
A contest between athletes.
Any long and arduous undertaking.
Competition (real or figurative) for popular support.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: to strive earnestly to hold or maintain
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