Contest vs. Contend — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 4, 2024
A contest is a competition or challenge between parties, focusing on winning or achieving victory, whereas to contend involves struggling or striving to surmount a challenge or opponent.
Difference Between Contest and Contend
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A contest usually refers to an organized event where individuals or teams compete against each other to achieve a specific objective, such as winning a prize or a title. On the other hand, to contend is to face difficulties or opposition with determination, often in a broader context beyond formal competitions.
Contests are often structured with clear rules and criteria for determining the winner, providing a platform for direct competition. Whereas contending involves dealing with challenges or rivals, which may not always follow a set of predefined rules or structured environments.
Participants in a contest are known as contestants, who actively engage in competing to outperform their rivals. On the other hand, individuals who contend might be called contenders, focusing more on overcoming obstacles or adversaries rather than just winning against direct competition.
Contests can be found in various fields such as sports, arts, and academics, showcasing talent, skill, or knowledge. In contrast, contending is more about the effort and resilience shown in the face of adversity, which can occur in any aspect of life.
While contests provide a platform for showcasing excellence and merit, contending emphasizes the personal or collective struggle involved in achieving success or overcoming barriers, highlighting the process rather than just the outcome.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A competitive event with rules to determine a winner.
To strive or struggle in opposition or rivalry.
Objective
To win or achieve victory in a specific area.
To overcome difficulties or opposition.
Participants
Contestants.
Contenders.
Nature
Structured and rule-based.
Can be unstructured, involving personal struggle.
Context
Often in sports, arts, academics, etc.
Any aspect of life where challenges arise.
Compare with Definitions
Contest
A competitive event designed to identify the best participant.
She entered the baking contest hoping to win first place.
Contend
To assert something as a position in an argument.
She contended that the new policy would benefit everyone.
Contest
An attempt to disprove or invalidate something.
The new evidence puts the previous theory in contest.
Contend
To face and deal with responsibilities or problems.
Parents contend with daily challenges raising children.
Contest
A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals.
The championship contest was the highlight of the season.
Contend
To compete for something.
Several companies are contending for the lucrative contract.
Contest
A situation where the outcome is uncertain and debated.
The debate was a contest of wits and knowledge.
Contend
To struggle in opposition or against difficulties.
He had to contend with numerous obstacles on his way to success.
Contest
A legal challenge against a decision or outcome.
The election results were under contest due to alleged discrepancies.
Contend
To strive in rivalry or competition.
Athletes contend for the championship title in various sports.
Contest
An event in which people compete for supremacy in a sport or other activity, or in a quality
A tennis contest
Contend
To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle
Armies contending for control of territory.
Had to contend with long lines at the airport.
Contest
Engage in competition to attain (a position of power)
She declared her intention to contest the presidency
Contend
To strive in competition, as in a race; vie
Two runners contending for the lead.
Contest
Oppose (an action or theory) as mistaken or wrong
The former chairman contests his dismissal
Contend
To strive in controversy or debate; dispute.
Contest
A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals
England's contest with Spain for domination of the seas.
Contend
To assert or maintain
The defense contended that the evidence was inadmissible.
Contest
A competition, especially one in which entrants perform separately and are rated by judges
A spelling contest.
Contend
(intransitive) To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
Contest
To compete or strive for; struggle to gain or control
Trade routes that were contested by competing cultures.
Contend
(intransitive) To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
Contest
To call into question and take an active stand against; dispute or challenge
Contest a will.
Contend
(intransitive) To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
Contest
(Sports) To defend against (a shot), as in basketball.
Contend
(intransitive) To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.
In this paper the author contends that no useful results can be obtained if this method is used.
Contest
To struggle or compete; contend
Contested with other bidders for the antique.
Contend
Contend with: To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.
Contest
(uncountable) Controversy; debate.
No contest
Contend
To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
For never two such kingdoms did contendWithout much fall of blood.
The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.
In ambitious strength I didContend against thy valor.
Contest
(uncountable) Struggle for superiority; combat.
Contend
To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
You sit above, and see vain men belowContend for what you only can bestow.
Contest
(countable) A competition.
The child entered the spelling contest.
Contend
To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
The question which our author would contend for.
Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial.
Contest
(intransitive) To contend.
I will contest for the open seat on the board.
Contend
To struggle for; to contest.
Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.
Contest
(transitive) To call into question; to oppose.
The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities.
Contend
Maintain or assert;
He contended that Communism had no future
Contest
(transitive) To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.
The troops contested every inch of ground.
Contend
Have an argument about something
Contest
(law) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law.
Contend
To make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation;
They contested the outcome of the race
Contest
To make a subject of dispute, contention, litigation, or emulation; to contend for; to call in question; to controvert; to oppose; to dispute.
The people . . . contested not what was done.
Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequenty repeated, few more contested than this.
Contend
Compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
Contest
To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend; as, the troops contested every inch of ground.
Contend
Come to terms or deal successfully with;
We got by on just a gallon of gas
They made do on half a loaf of bread every day
Contest
To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist; as a claim, by course of law; to controvert.
Contest
To engage in contention, or emulation; to contend; to strive; to vie; to emulate; - followed usually by with.
The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with it, when there are hopes of victory.
Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest?
Contest
Earnest dispute; strife in argument; controversy; debate; altercation.
Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clamors and brawling language.
Contest
Earnest struggle for superiority, victory, defense, etc.; competition; emulation; strife in arms; conflict; combat; encounter.
The late battle had, in effect, been a contest between one usurper and another.
It was fully expected that the contest there would be long and fierce.
Contest
An occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
Contest
A struggle between rivals
Contest
To make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation;
They contested the outcome of the race
Common Curiosities
What is a contest?
A contest is an organized competition where participants aim to win or achieve a certain goal through demonstrating superiority in a specific area.
Are all contests competitive?
Yes, contests are inherently competitive as they involve participants striving to outperform each other to win or achieve recognition.
What does it mean to contend?
To contend means to face and deal with challenges or opposition, often by asserting oneself in a struggle or competition.
Can a person contend in a contest?
Yes, individuals can contend in a contest by competing against others to win or achieve the contest's objectives.
How can someone prepare to contend with life's challenges?
Preparation can include gaining knowledge, developing resilience, and acquiring problem-solving skills to effectively face and overcome challenges.
How are contests and contending similar?
Both involve a form of competition or struggle, whether it's against others in a structured event or against challenges in various contexts.
Can contests be unfair?
While contests are designed to be fair, factors like biased judging or unclear rules can sometimes lead to perceptions of unfairness.
Is contending always about competing with others?
No, contending can also involve dealing with personal or external challenges, not just competing against others.
Can contending lead to success?
Yes, contending with and overcoming challenges is often a key part of achieving success in various aspects of life.
Is contending a positive or negative experience?
It can be both; contending with challenges can be difficult, but it can also lead to personal growth and achievement.
How do contests impact participants?
Participating in contests can enhance skills, boost confidence, and provide motivation for improvement and excellence.
What is required to win a contest?
Winning a contest typically requires skill, effort, and adherence to the contest's rules and criteria for success.
Do contests always have a clear winner?
Most contests aim to have a clear winner based on the competition's criteria, though some may end in a tie or require further evaluation.
What motivates people to contend with challenges?
Motivations can include personal growth, the desire to overcome adversity, or the pursuit of a specific goal or achievement.
Are there different types of contests?
Yes, contests can vary widely in nature, including sports competitions, academic contests, art exhibitions, and more.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
