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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

challenge en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/
  • /ˈt͡ʃæl.ənd͡ʒ/
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier), from Latin calumnia (“a false accusation, calumny”). Cognate with Old English hōl (“calumny”). Doublet of calumny.

Meanings

  1. A confrontation; a dare. ▸ An antagonization or instigation intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.
    • Congratulations on managing to use the phrase “preponderant criterion” in a chart (“On your marks”, November 9th). Was this the work of a kakorrhaphiophobic journalist set a challenge by his colleagues, or simply an example of glossolalia? 2013 November 30, Paul Davis, “Letters: Say it as simply as possible”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8864:
  2. A confrontation; a dare. ▸ A bid to overcome something.
    • a challenge to the king's authority
    • For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places. 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
  3. A confrontation; a dare. ▸ An attempt to take possession; a tackle.
    • Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez added a superb second when he surged past four challenges to fire in low. 2011 October 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:
  4. A confrontation; a dare. ▸ A summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons.
  5. A confrontation; a dare. ▸ The act of a sentry in halting a person and demanding the countersign, or (by extension) the action of a computer system demanding a password, etc.
    • The somewhat-shattered San Francisco also managed to make it out, although not before she'd come within seconds of being blown out of the water by Helena, as the two had lost contact in the dark and the flagship had loomed back out of the murk with no one and nothing available to answer the light cruiser's challenge - the radio, the whistle, the signal lights, the flags, et cetera, had all been destroyed. Luckily, one of the few surviving signalmen found a small handheld signal light and managed to blink out the ship's hull number. 2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 27:16 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 07 Nov 2022:
  6. A confrontation; a dare. ▸ An attempt to have a work of literature restricted or removed from a public library or school curriculum.
  7. A difficult task, especially one that the person making the attempt finds more enjoyable because of that difficulty.
  8. A procedure or action. ▸ The act of appealing a ruling or decision of a court of administrative agency.
  9. (rare) A procedure or action. ▸ A judge's interest in the result of a case, constituting grounds for them to not be allowed to sit the case (e.g., a conflict of interest).
    • Consanguinity in direct line is a challenge for a judge when he or she is sitting cases.
  10. A procedure or action. ▸ The act of seeking to remove a judge, arbitrator, or other judicial or semi-judicial figure for reasons of alleged bias or incapacity.
    • We're still waiting to hear how the court rules on our challenge of the arbitrator based on conflict of interest.
  11. (US) A procedure or action. ▸ An act of seeking to have a certain person be declared not legally qualified to vote, made when the person offers their ballot.
  12. The opening and crying of hounds upon first finding the scent of their game.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
challenges Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

unchallengeable · challenged · subchallenge · rise to the challenge (Expressions) · multichallenger · Batson challenge (Expressions) · immunochallenge · superchallenge · floor temperature challenge · challengee · drug challenge (Expressions) · megachallenge · challengest · challenger · challengeable · challengeless · underchallenge · postchallenge · room temperature challenge (Expressions) · frame challenge · unchallengeably · challenge coin (Expressions) · challengeth · mischallenge · counterchallenge · peremptory challenge (Expressions) · unchallenged · prechallenge · ice bucket challenge (Expressions) · dechallenge · high challenge (Expressions) · challenge exam (Expressions) · challengeful · overchallenge · challenge run · multichallenge · rechallenge · nonchallenge

Descendants

challenge · 챌린지 · チャレンジ · че́ллендж

Translations (151)

it impresa (difficult task) · fr challenge (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ast desafíu (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · da udfordring (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hu szerelés (sports: an attempt to take possession) · el πρόκληση (difficult task) · fr chalenge (difficult task) · hu kétségbevonás (bid to overcome something) · ro provocare (difficult task) · hy կոչ (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · et proovikivi (difficult task) · pt desafio (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ru тру́дная зада́ча (difficult task) · sh ȉzazōv (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · uk пробле́ма (difficult task) · it ricusazione (judge's interest in the result of the case for which they should not be allowed to sit) · lt iššūkis (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · pt incentivo (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hy մրցահրավեր (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · fr défi (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ko 챌린지 (difficult task) · cs výzva (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · nb utfordring (difficult task) · fa چالش (difficult task) · es reto (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · nrf d'fi (difficult task) · ur آزمائش (difficult task) · th ความท้าทาย (difficult task) · sv utmaning (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · pt desafio (difficult task) · et takistatus (judge's interest in the result of the case for which they should not be allowed to sit) · th คำท้า (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · cy sialens (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · et katsumus (difficult task) · be вы́клік (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · fi haaste (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · el πρόκληση (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ur تحدی (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ast retu (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · vi thách thức (difficult task) · es reclamación (the act of appealing a ruling or decision) · uk ви́клик (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · grc πρόκλησις (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ur چنوتی (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · gl reto (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ko 도전 (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · id tantangan (difficult task) · hu visszautasítás (the act of appealing a ruling or decision) · tl hamon (difficult task) · ta சவால் (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · es recurso (the act of appealing a ruling or decision) · ar التَّحَدِّي (difficult task) · gl desfiamento (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ru сло́жная зада́ча (difficult task) · hu felszólítás (the act of a sentry in halting a person and demanding the countersign, or (by extension) the action of a computer system demanding a password, etc.) · eo defio (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · vi thử thách (difficult task) · fr défi (difficult task) · ta சவால் (difficult task) · cmn 挑戰 /挑战 (difficult task) · ro provocare (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ru испыта́ние (difficult task) · ja 誰何 (the act of a sentry in halting a person and demanding the countersign, or (by extension) the action of a computer system demanding a password, etc.) · ar تَحَدٍّ (difficult task) · mn төвөгтэй асуудал (difficult task) · hu erőpróba (difficult task) · cy her (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hu igazoltatás (the act of a sentry in halting a person and demanding the countersign, or (by extension) the action of a computer system demanding a password, etc.) · he אֶתְגָּר (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · it sfida (difficult task) · hi चुनौती (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ru че́ллендж (difficult task) · sw changa moto (difficult task) · ru вы́зов (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ar تَحَدٍّ (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · bg отвод (the act of seeking to remove a judge) · et väljakutse (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · lv izaicinājums (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · bg предизвика́телство (bid to overcome something) · nl uitdaging (difficult task) · hu kifogásolás (the act of appealing a ruling or decision) · es trastorno (difficult task) · uk ви́клик (difficult task) · ml വെല്ലുവിളി (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ga dúshlán (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · la prōvocātiō (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hu vitatás (bid to overcome something) · cs výzva (difficult task) · sw changa moto (judge's interest in the result of the case for which they should not be allowed to sit) · eo defio (difficult task) · es reto (difficult task) · fi haaste (difficult task) · is áskorun (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · cmn 難題 /难题 (difficult task) · he אֶתְגָּר (difficult task) · ja チャレンジ (difficult task) · vi thách đố (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ml വെല്ലുവിളി (difficult task) · et väljakutse (difficult task) · ca repte (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · vi thách thức (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ms cabaran (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · id tantangan (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hy մարտահրավեր (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · nrf d'fi (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hu (nehéz) feladat (difficult task) · ka გამოწვევა (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hu kifogás (the act of appealing a ruling or decision) · km ឧបសគ្គ (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · bg предизви́кване (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · sw changa moto (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · es impugnación (the act of appealing a ruling or decision) · fi esteellisyysperuste (judge's interest in the result of the case for which they should not be allowed to sit) · de Herausforderung (difficult task) · ko 도전 (difficult task) · sv jäv (judge's interest in the result of the case for which they should not be allowed to sit) · ja 挑戦 (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · it sfida (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ru вы́зов (difficult task) · ur مشکل (difficult task) · bg предизвика́телство (difficult task) · fr épreuve (difficult task) · pl wyzwanie (difficult task) · de Herausforderung (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · de (schwierige) Aufgabe (difficult task) · th คำท้าทาย (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · cmn 挑戰 /挑战 (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · pl wyzwanie (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · uk складна́ задача́ (difficult task) · nl uitdaging (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ar التَّحَدِّي (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · mk предизвик (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · gl devandiña (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ja 挑戦 (difficult task) · hu próbatétel (difficult task) · sh и̏зазо̄в (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · ca desafiament (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · fr chalenge (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hi चुनौती (difficult task) · bcl agyat (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · fa چالش (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · sv utmaning (difficult task) · hu kihívás (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · gd dùbhlan (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · hu letámadás (sports: an attempt to take possession) · ur دشواری (difficult task) · fi jäävi (judge's interest in the result of the case for which they should not be allowed to sit) · tl hamon (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not) · cy her (difficult task) · km ឧបសគ្គ (difficult task) · hu elfogultsági kifogás (the act of seeking to remove a judge)

challenge en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/
  • /ˈt͡ʃæl.ənd͡ʒ/
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier), from Latin calumnia (“a false accusation, calumny”). Cognate with Old English hōl (“calumny”). Doublet of calumny.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To invite (someone) to take part in a competition.
    • By this I challenge him to single fight. c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
    • We challenged the boys next door to a game of football.
  2. (transitive) To dare (someone).
    • [...] For I challenge any Man to make any pretence to Power by Right of Fatherhood, either intelligible or poſſible in any one, otherwiſe, then either as Adams heir, or as Progenitor over his own deſcendants, naturally ſprung from him. 1689 December (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Who Heir?”, in Two Treatises of Government: […], London: […] Awnsham Churchill, […], →OCLC, book I, paragraph 149, page 194:
  3. (transitive) To dispute (something); to contest.
    • to challenge the accuracy of a statement or of a quotation
    • In the April 2020 Roade fatality, the worker who died "was reputedly in the habit of walking on the line when he didn't need to". Tragically, no one challenged him about it. 2022 August 10, Dr Mike Esbester, “New understandings from old incidents”, in RAIL, number 963, page 58:
  4. To call something into question or dispute.
    • New information challenged old hypotheses.
  5. (transitive) To make a formal objection to a juror.
  6. (transitive) To be difficult or challenging for.
    • Before moving onto the content of Hobson-Jobson, an explication of the publication history is necessary since this has clearly challenged many commentators. 2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 487:
  7. (obsolete, transitive) To claim as due; to demand as a right.
    • Challenge better terms. 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, page 7:
  8. (obsolete, transitive) To censure; to blame.
    • I may be more challenged for my inconsiderate Boldness 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC:
  9. (transitive) To question or demand the countersign from (one who attempts to pass the lines).
    • The sentinel challenged us with "Who goes there?"
  10. (US, transitive) To object to the reception of the vote of, e.g. on the ground that the person is not qualified as a voter.
  11. (Canada, US, transitive) To take (a final exam) in order to get credit for a course without taking it.
    • The only time I went to class was to challenge an exam. My marks were good. But there was one class I never missed, “Nursing Process and the New Philosophy in Nursing.” 1997, Carol Gino, The Nurse's Story:
    • I mean if you go in and want to challenge an exam it cost you half of your course money. If you don't pass the exam, that money is credited toward taking the course. What have you got to lose to challenge an exam, or do a competency exam? 1996, Senate Legislative Record ... Legislature State of Maine:
    • Although we strongly recommend that you keep practicing until your scores top the 75% mark, 80% would be a good goal, to give yourself some margin for error in a real exam situation[…]. After you hit that point, you should be ready to challenge the exam. 2006, Diana Huggins, Exam/cram 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, page 2:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
challenged Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
challenged Tense=Past lexicographic
challenging Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
challenges Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

rechallenge · challenger · challenging · dechallenge

Synonyms

becall · call out · call

Translations (119)

chr ᎦᏁᏄᎵᎠ (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · nl betwisten (to dispute something) · ml വെല്ലുവിളിക്കുക (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · bg предизви́квам (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · fr challenger (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · chr ᎦᏁᏄᎵᎠ (to dare someone) · de herausfordern (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · pt desafiar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · bg предизвиквам (to dare someone) · es recusar (to make a formal objection to a juror) · ru вызыва́ть (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · el προκαλώ (to dare someone) · nl uitdagen (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · mi whakahorohoro (to dispute something) · et välja kutsuma (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · hu kihív (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · la prōvocō (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · hu elfogultsági kifogással él (to make a formal objection to a juror) · tl hamunin (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · pt desafiar (to dare someone) · nl uitdagen (to dare someone) · cs vyzvat (to dare someone) · sv utmana (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · ca desafiar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · ast retar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · th ท้าดวล (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · eo defii (to dare someone) · th ท้าแข่ง (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · ru вы́звать (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · hi ललकारना (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · es poner en duda / cuestión (to dispute something) · hu megóv (to dispute something) · th ท้า (to dare someone) · vi thách đấu (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · la prōvocō (to dare someone) · mi mātātaki (to dispute something) · hu megkérdőjelez (to dispute something) · da udfordre (to dare someone) · hu vitat (to dispute something) · pl zakwestionować (to make a formal objection to a juror) · mi whakapātari (to dispute something) · pl zakwestionować (to dispute something) · sv utmana (to dare someone) · hu kihív (to dare someone) · ru оспа́ривать (to dispute something) · sw changa moto (to dare someone) · hu kétségbe von (to dispute something) · bg пока́нвам (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · bg отричам (to dispute something) · fr défier (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · hu óvást emel (to dispute something) · et vaidlustama (to dispute something) · sw changa moto (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · nl wraken (to make a formal objection to a juror) · sh izazvati (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · pl wyzwać (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · pl ośmielić (to dare someone) · gl desafiar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · he אתגר (to dare someone) · vi thách đố (to dare someone) · mi whakatumatuma (to dispute something) · bg пови́квам (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · th ท้า (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · tl maghamon (to dare someone) · ko 도전하다 (to dare someone) · hu kifogásol (to make a formal objection to a juror) · sw changa moto (to make a formal objection to a juror) · ro provoca (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · fr défier (to dare someone) · hu visszautasít (to make a formal objection to a juror) · bcl agyat (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · bg предизви́кам (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · gl retar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · fi haastaa (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · mi tuma (to dispute something) · tl humamon (to dare someone) · de herausfordern (to dare someone) · ang beclipian (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · et üles kutsuma (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · bg възразя́вам (to make a formal objection to a juror) · sv ifrågasätta (to dispute something) · ru вызыва́ть (to dare someone) · ru оспо́рить (to dispute something) · es puyar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · sw changa moto (to dispute something) · hu tiltakozik (to dispute something) · vi thách thức (to dare someone) · hu megtámad (to dispute something) · es retar (to dare someone) · eo defii (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · ms cabar (to dare someone) · pt desafiar (to dispute something) · hi ललकारना (to dare someone) · vi thách (to dare someone) · ro contesta (to dispute something) · es impugnar (to make a formal objection to a juror) · tl humamon (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · el προκαλώ (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · hu dacol (to dispute something) · mi whakatōrea (to dispute something) · ast desafiar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · hu ellenszegül (to dispute something) · pt disputar (to dispute something) · id menantang (to dare someone) · fi kyseenalaistaa (to dispute something) · et vastu vaidlema (to dispute something) · es retar (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · ga tabhair dúshlán (to dare someone) · id menantang (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · da udfordre (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · fi haastaa (to dare someone) · mi whakatuma (to dispute something) · fr défier (to write a final exam to get credit for a course) · bg оспорвам (to dispute something) · et välja kutsuma (to dare someone) · nl tarten (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · tl hamunin (to dare someone) · sq nxit (to invite someone to take part in a competition) · nl bekritiseren (to dispute something)