Contest: meaning, definitions and examples

Used for a situation where people compete to win a prize or achieve the best result in an activity, often emphasizing the effort and struggle involved.

• The art contest attracted many talented participants
• The mayoral race is expected to be a closely contested event

Describes a scenario where individuals or groups strive against one another to achieve the same goal, often used in more formal or professional settings.

• The company faces stiff competition in the market
• She won first place in the piano competition

Denotes a series of contests or matches involving many competitors, especially in sports or gaming, with an overall winner determined at the end.

• The tennis tournament will last for two weeks
• She is excited to compete in the chess tournament

Refers to a stimulating or demanding task or situation, often implying a call to prove one's abilities or to overcome a difficult obstacle.

• Climbing Mount Everest is a serious challenge
• He accepted the challenge to write a novel in a month

Commonly used in the context of sports, referring to an organized game or series of events between two contestants or teams.

• The soccer match was intense and thrilling
• They are preparing for the championship match next week

As a verb, this is similar to 'challenge' and can mean to dispute or argue against something, often in a legal or formal context.

• They decided to contest the will in court
• He plans to contest the results of the election

Used to describe the act of participating in a competition or trying to be more successful than others. Generally used as a verb.

• Athletes from around the world compete in the Olympics
• Many companies compete for market dominance

Used to describe striving or fighting for the same goal as others. Typically used in serious or intense competition contexts.

• Several candidates vie for the presidential office
• The teams vie for the championship title

Refers to a person or entity that competes with another. The term is often used to describe a long-standing or ongoing competition. Can be a noun or verb.

• He is my biggest rival in the chess club
• Our company rivals theirs in terms of product quality

Often used to describe a situation that requires effort and determination to overcome. It can be a noun referring to a difficult task or a verb indicating the act of questioning or disputing something.

• Running a marathon was the biggest challenge of his life
• They challenge the validity of the election results