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.
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
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
In the 53rd minute, Aaronson and Max Kilman were contesting the ball in the north-east corner of the stadium.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Israel has been competing in the contest since 1973 and calls for its exclusion have intensified in the wake of the war on Gaza.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
With no presumptive nominee or clear party leader after the 2024 presidential election loss, the Democratic field remains widely contested—a scenario that could reshape the party’s electoral strategy, policy direction and prospects for challenging Republican front-runners in upcoming races.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
In the 53rd minute, Aaronson and Max Kilman were contesting the ball in the north-east corner of the stadium.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
In the last 23 November games, Iowa is 21-2, and both losses were by one score after its starting quarterback was knocked out of the contest.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Israel has been competing in the contest since 1973 and calls for its exclusion have intensified in the wake of the war on Gaza.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contest. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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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