to contest
- verb
- /kənˈtɛst/
- The major objective of American party organizations is to contest elections rather than to promote public policy.
- contested elections
- contested seat
- hotly contested
Examples
-
In the event, Roh won a fiercely contested three-way race, amassing about 36 percent of the total vote.
Academic text (1992) -
The Brotherhood thus stands to win the vast majority of the seats that it contests, making a parliamentary plurality highly likely.
Academic text (2011) -
If you contest this election, you'll be finished.
-
By 1988, the DPP had contested elections, but only as an illegal party.
Academic text (1992) -
Under British rule, the Congress gained experience in contesting elections and in governing at provincial and municipal levels.
Academic text (1997) -
Since they are forbidden to contest elections, they openly and actively sponsor the candidacies of "new breed" politicians.
Academic text (1990) -
With 33 senatorial seats contested, the current Republican majority, a slim 54-46, could become veto-proof.
Academic text (1995) -
Already, there are reports of heavy voter turnout in this hotly contested race between political outsider Elliot Doolittle and businessman Andrew Bridgeworth.
-
Several candidates have decided to contest the upcoming mayoral election in their city.
-
If you choose to contest the results of the voting, you will need to provide clear evidence.
Synonyms
Compete against another team or player in a sport
Try to win against others who want the same thing
To work in a planned way to win support or votes
Compete with others to try to win something
To try very hard to win the same thing as someone else
Try to win a game or match rather than just take part
To sign up to take part in a contest
To join a competition that already has other people competing to try to win
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
A competition that tests how long people can keep going in hard conditions
A competition where people try to write words correctly and are out if they make a mistake
A competition where people or companies offer higher prices to win something like at an auction
How Competitive
Surface Forms
Etymology
To contest (to compete) also comes from the idea of a public challenge, from Latin con- 'together' and testari 'to call as a witness', so imagine people 'calling each other out' to fight for a prize. That is why to contest something can mean to try to win against others.