contest

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a competition in which people try to win sth: a singing / writing / beauty contest * to enter a contest 2 ~ (for sth) a struggle to gain control or power: a contest for the leadership of the party IDIOMS be no contest used to say that one side in a competition is so much stronger or better than the other that it is sure to win easily verb [VN] 1 to take part in a competition, election, etc. and try to win it: Three candidates contested the leadership. * The party has decided not to contest this election. * a hotly / fiercely / keenly contested game (= one in which the players try very hard to win and the scores are close) 2 to formally oppose a decision or statement because you think it is wrong: to contest a will (= try to show that it was not correctly made in law) * The divorce was not contested.