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
Gia Biagi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
All of the races will be contested.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Williams, Senior G, Mansfield Timberview Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per contest en route to TABC all-state honors.
—Charles Baggarly
april 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contest
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Many of these were hard wins, often fraught and contested in their local context.
—Gia Biagi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
All of the races will be contested.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
Senior Devon Blair will be the top starter for the Vikings and finished with a 16-strikeout contest in a tough loss to Northbridge in the postseason.
—Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Williams, Senior G, Mansfield Timberview Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per contest en route to TABC all-state honors.
—Charles Baggarly
april 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contest
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contest. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
