con·test
kən-ˈtest 
ˈkän-ˌtest
ˈkän-ˌtest
contested; contesting; contests
: to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation
contester
noun
con·test
ˈkän-ˌtest
1
: a struggle for superiority or victory : competition
a football contest between rival teams
2
: a competition in which each contestant performs without direct contact with or interference from competitors
He won the contest for best photograph.
Synonyms
Examples of contest in a Sentence
Verb
She plans to contest a seat in Congress next year.
Both candidates have agreed to another debate before this hotly contested election.
Noun
Contest winners receive a cash prize.
Will you enter the contest?
She hopes to win the contest for mayor.
Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a contest for control of the House of Representatives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Bennett, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
All challenges must be filed by Dec. 2. State law sets expedited timeframes for courts to hear cases contesting election results.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Michigan’s biggest 2024 election contests The presidential race is looming over the whole nation, but is especially close in Michigan, one of seven key swing states this cycle.
—Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contest 
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Verb
After Election Day in 2020, Trump’s team brought more than 60 lawsuits to contest the 2020 results, according to Remus,, and won one case involving 12 votes.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
All challenges must be filed by Dec. 2. State law sets expedited timeframes for courts to hear cases contesting election results.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
This is the first time the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, which hosts the National Dog Show, has held a smile-off contest.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Michigan’s biggest 2024 election contests The presidential race is looming over the whole nation, but is especially close in Michigan, one of seven key swing states this cycle.
—Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contest
Dictionary Entries Near contest
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contest. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contest
1 of 2 verb
con·test
kən-ˈtest
ˈkän-ˌtest
ˈkän-ˌtest
: to make (something) a cause of dispute or fighting
contest a claim
contest
2 of 2 noun
con·test
ˈkän-ˌtest
: a struggle for victory : competition
Legal Definition
contest
1 of 2 transitive verb
con·test
kən-ˈtest
: to dispute or challenge through legal procedures
contest a will
contest
2 of 2 noun
con·test
ˈkän-ˌtest
: a challenge brought through formal or legal procedures
boundary controversies or other contests between states—Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter
specifically
: will contest see also no contest clause
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