- a competition in which people try to win something
- to hold a singing/talent contest
- to enter/win a contest
- in a contest She was awarded the first prize in an essay contest .
- contest between A and B It was a close contest between two evenly matched crews.
- contest with somebody He said he had enjoyed the contest with his rival for the title .
- contest to do something a contest to win a free tickets to the concert
Extra Examples- He won his opening contest against Costa of Argentina.
- She has injured her knee and is now out of the contest.
- Sporting contests are held in the arena.
- The New Zealanders are looking forward to future contests with South Africa.
- The contest was too one-sided to be exciting.
- The contestants are eliminated one by one until the last two compete in a head-to-head contest.
- The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest.
- They won the doubles contest against the Williams sisters.
- This contest is wide open: any of half a dozen teams could win it.
- the contest between these two great boxers
- She's the favourite for this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
- To enter the contest, simply send an email to this address…
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- close
- equal
- even
- …
- have
- hold
- run
- …
- take place
- during a/the contest
- in a/the contest
- out of a/the contest
- …
- a contest of skills
- a contest of strength
- be no contest
- …
Definitions on the go
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- a struggle to gain control or power
- the leadership/presidential contest
- in a contest Both parties are predicting victory in this close contest.
- contest for something a contest for the leadership of the party
- contest between A and B a contest between traditional and liberal views
- contest with somebody It looks like being a close-fought contest with the Conservatives.
- contest to do something the contest to gain control of the party
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsb2- During the election contest newspapers are not allowed to publish public opinion polls.
- In the animal kingdom intruders usually lose contests over territories.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- close
- equal
- even
- …
- have
- hold
- run
- …
- take place
- during a/the contest
- in a/the contest
- out of a/the contest
- …
- a contest of skills
- a contest of strength
- be no contest
- …
Word Originlate 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘swear to, attest’): from Latin contestari ‘call upon to witness, initiate (by calling witnesses)’, from con- ‘together’ + testare ‘to witness’. The senses ‘wrangle, struggle for’ arose in the early 17th cent., which gave rise to the current noun and verb senses.
Idioms
See contest in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee contest in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe 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 easilyTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc2
Check pronunciation:
contest