challenge
Americannoun
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challenges
plural
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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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challenges,
present (3rd person singular)
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challenged,
past participle, past
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challenging
present participle
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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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challenges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
challenged,
past participle, past
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challenging
present participle
-
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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challengernoun
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prechallengeverb (used with object)
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rechallengeverb (used with object)
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challengeableadjective
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unchallengeableadjective
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unchallengeablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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challengesimple
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challengessimple
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have challengedperfect
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has challengedperfect
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am challengingprogressive
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are challengingprogressive
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is challengingprogressive
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have been challengingperfect progressive
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has been challengingperfect progressive
Past
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challengedsimple
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had challengedperfect
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was challengingprogressive
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were challengingprogressive
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had been challengingperfect progressive
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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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.
See Examples For:
“It was a challenge getting CG to be accepted by directors and producers,” Cancado said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
By intentionally scripting ways to tighten these familial bonds from an early age—and recognizing the dynamics that can challenge them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is expanding rocket production in Florida as it works to challenge SpaceX’s launch business.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
Around 2,500 have been charged, but the cases have not gone to trial as a legal challenge to the proscription is due to be heard in the Supreme Court next month.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Turkey Vulture had said that whoever climbed the highest would win the challenge for their team.
From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
That could be a win for consumers and the tech companies behind the agents, but it poses challenges for many e-commerce players caught in the middle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
A fresh approach to the dot plot and the Fed’s broader communication tools is overdue, and the timing is good as the central bank grapples with new and evolving challenges.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
In a wide-ranging interview before the event, Kim — who was appointed in February after holding an interim presidential role — said he leads USC at a time of promise and deep challenges:
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
But does her sudden departure highlight the challenges broadcasters face covering the women's game in an ever-changing media landscape?
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Filipino journalists faced numerous challenges to publish their newspapers.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
It’s being challenged in Washington court and has a hearing scheduled for February.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
While his legal fight was going on in Italy, another Ukrainian man called Volodymyr Zhuravlov successfully challenged Germany's extradition bid in a Polish court.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Xavier’s aunt, Elizabeth Amaya, said Tuesday that she challenged the finding of suicide because if not for the fight, she said, Xavier would not have fled the classroom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
"Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements," Rochon said in the court order.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
We shall see, however, that over the years this basic pattern went through ever more severe crises that challenged its ability to survive.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
They are also challenging to modify genetically and can be damaged during freezing and storage, complicating the production and distribution of cell therapies.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
France's points-based assignment system gives more experienced teachers greater choice over where they work, leaving "less experienced" educators more likely to be posted to "the most challenging roles", he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The robots’ pincer-like hands make it challenging to grasp slippery and heavy ceramics.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Albert is PNG's first female superstar - but that meant challenging some old values back home.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
“I apologize for challenging you to a duel before, Jack,” he said, “back beneath Malevolent’s castle.”
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
