Challenge Meaning
/ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA confrontation; a dare.
nounA confrontation; a dare., An antagonization or instigation intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.
Sentence Examples
I don't mean to challenge your theory.
Whatever the outcome, you must meet the challenge.
His legal team immediately sought to challenge the decision.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Climbing Mount Everest is a physical and mental ____ that few attempt.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Climbing the mountain will be a major ____ for the young explorers.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
"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:
"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:
"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]:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Climbing Mount Everest is a physical and mental ____ that few attempt.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Climbing the mountain will be a major ____ for the young explorers.