challenge
Americannoun
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a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
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something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc..
Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.
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a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.
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a demand to explain, justify, etc..
a challenge to the treasurer to itemize expenditures.
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difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.
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Military. the demand of a sentry for identification or a countersign.
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Law. a formal objection to the qualifications of a particular juror, to that juror serving, or to the legality of an entire jury.
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the assertion that a vote is invalid or that a voter is not legally qualified.
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Biology. the process of inducing or assessing physiological or immunological activity by exposing an organism to a specific substance.
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Hunting. the crying of a hound on finding a scent.
verb (used with object)
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to summon to a contest of skill, strength, etc.
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to take exception to; call in question.
to challenge the wisdom of a procedure.
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to demand as something due or rightful.
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Military. to halt and demand identification or countersign from.
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Law. to take formal exception to (a juror or jury).
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to have a claim to; invite; arouse; stimulate.
a matter which challenges attention.
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to assert that (a vote) is invalid.
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to assert that (a voter) is not qualified to vote.
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to expose an organism to a specific substance in order to assess its physiological or immunological activity.
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Archaic. to lay claim to.
verb (used without object)
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to make or issue a challenge.
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Hunting. (of hounds) to cry or give tongue on picking up the scent.
adjective
verb
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to invite or summon (someone to do something, esp to take part in a contest)
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(also intr) to call (something) into question; dispute
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to make demands on; stimulate
the job challenges his ingenuity
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to order (a person) to halt and be identified or to give a password
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law to make formal objection to (a juror or jury)
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to lay claim to (attention, etc)
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(intr) hunting (of a hound) to cry out on first encountering the scent of a quarry
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to inject (an experimental animal immunized with a test substance) with disease microorganisms to test for immunity to the disease
noun
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a call to engage in a fight, argument, or contest
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a questioning of a statement or fact; a demand for justification or explanation
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a demanding or stimulating situation, career, object, etc
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a demand by a sentry, watchman, etc, for identification or a password
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an assertion that a person is not entitled to vote or that a vote is invalid
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law a formal objection to a person selected to serve on a jury ( challenge to the polls ) or to the whole body of jurors ( challenge to the array )
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unchallengeableadjective
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prechallengeverb (used with object)
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rechallengeverb (used with object)
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challengernoun
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challengeableadjective
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unchallengeablyadverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have challengedperfect
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has challengedperfect 3rd person singular
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am challengingprogressive 1st person singular
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is challengingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been challengingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are challengingprogressive
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challengingparticiple
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challengessingular 3rd person
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have been challengingperfect progressive
Past
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had challengedperfect
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were challengingprogressive plural
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had been challengingperfect progressive
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challengedsimple
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challengedparticiple
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was challengingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of challenge
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English chalenge, from Old French, variant of chalonge, from Latin calumnia “false statement”; see calumny
Explanation
A challenge is something that puts you to the test — like running your first marathon or reading War and Peace. Challenge, as a verb, is derived from a Latin word meaning "to accuse falsely," and it is still used much as it was in the 13th century, in the sense of questioning whether something is true or right. Students sometimes challenge a weeknight curfew, and lawyers might challenge the evidence submitted by the other side in a lawsuit. Challenge is also used as a noun for a competition in which people challenge one another to prove that they’re the best at something.
Vocabulary lists containing challenge
List 2
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4
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Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 11-20
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The challenge for batters was compounded by some alarming uneven bounce from early in the match.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
The Green Mountain saga has taken an unusual turn, but reflects a more common challenge set off by the shrinking enrollment and financial woes closing colleges nationwide.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
In a tournament that for the first time will feature 48 teams, Mexico’s challenge remains at least reaching the elusive quarterfinals.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
Marks and Spencer is launching a new training scheme for young people trying to get on the career ladder in a bid to tackle the "growing youth unemployment challenge".
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
A bold challenge was posed to the public, “COME AND INVESTIGATE.”
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
