- challenge
- [[t]tʃæ̱lɪnʤ[/t]]
♦♦challenges, challenging, challenged1) N-VAR A challenge is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination.
I like a big challenge and they don't come much bigger than this...
The new government's first challenge is the economy.
2) PHRASE: V inflects If someone rises to the challenge, they act in response to a difficult situation which is new to them and are successful.The new Germany must rise to the challenge of its enhanced responsibilities...
They rose to the challenge of entertaining 80 schoolchildren for an afternoon.
3) N-VAR: oft N to n A challenge to something is a questioning of its truth or value. A challenge to someone is a questioning of their authority.The demonstrators have now made a direct challenge to the authority of the government.
4) VERB If you challenge ideas or people, you question their truth, value, or authority.[V n to-inf] Democratic leaders have challenged the president to sign the bill...
[be V-ed] The move was immediately challenged by two of the republics...
[V n on/about n] I challenged him on the hypocrisy of his political attitudes. [Also V with quote, V n]
5) VERB If you challenge someone, you invite them to fight or compete with you in some way.[V n to n] Marsyas thought he could play the flute better than Apollo and challenged the god to a contest...
[V n to-inf] He left a note at the scene of the crime, challenging detectives to catch him...
[V n] We challenged a team who called themselves `College Athletes'.
N-COUNTChallenge is also a noun.A third presidential candidate emerged to mount a serious challenge and throw the campaign wide open.
6) VERB If someone is challenged by a guard, they are ordered to stop and say who they are or why they are there.[be V-ed] The men apparently opened fire after they were challenged by a patrol.
7) → See also , challenging
English dictionary. 2008.
