Word family noun challenge challenger adjective challenging challenged ≠ unchallenged unchallengeable verb challenge adverb challengingly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishchallengechal·lenge1 /ˈtʃæləndʒ/ ●●● S2 W2 AWL noun 1 something difficult [countable, uncountable]DIFFICULT something that tests strength, skill, or ability, especially in a way that is interestingchallenge of The company is ready to meet the challenges of the next few years.the challenge of doing something I relish the challenge of rebuilding the club.face/take on/accept etc a challenge (=be ready to deal with one) Martins now faces the biggest challenge of his career.meet a challenge/rise to a challenge (=successfully deal with one) a new and vibrant initiative to meet the challenge of the 21st centuryintellectual/physical challenge the intellectual challenge of postgraduate research2 question something [countable]ACCEPT when someone refuses to accept that someone or something is right and legalchallenge to a direct challenge to the Governor’s authoritychallenge from The president faces a strong challenge from nationalists.pose/represent/present a challenge (to somebody) The strike represented a serious challenge to the government.mount/launch a challenge They decided to mount a legal challenge to the decision.3 competitionASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something [countable] when someone tries to win something or invites someone to try to beat them in a fight, competition etcchallenge for They are ready to mount a challenge for the championship. They threw down the challenge that he couldn’t wash 40 cars in one hour (=invited him to try to do it). The prime minister narrowly avoided a leadership challenge last year.4 stop [countable]ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something a demand from someone such as a guard to stop and give proof of who you are, and an explanation of what you are doing5 in law [countable]SCT law a statement made before the start of a court case that a juror is not acceptableCOLLOCATIONSverbsmeet a challenge (=deal with one)Here are a few tips to help you meet the challenges of university life.face a challenge (=have to deal with one)The company still faces some challenges.accept a challenge (=try to deal with one)He was ready to accept new challenges.take on a challenge (=accept one)The new headteacher has taken on the challenge of improving the school.present/pose a challenge (=be a difficult one)These changes pose a real challenge to farmers.provide a challenge (=be an interesting one)Her new job provided a real challenge.rise to a challenge (=deal successfully with it)It was a difficult project but we rose to the challenge.love/enjoy/relish a challengeChildren enjoy a challenge so the work should not be too easy.adjectivesa big/major/huge/tremendous challengeBuilding the tunnel presented a major challenge to engineers.a serious challengeAt the moment we are facing a serious environmental challenge.a real challenge (=a difficult one)On Monday, Sharapova faced her first real challenge of the tournament.a formidable/daunting/tough challenge (=a very difficult one)How to deal with waste is a daunting challenge for the west.the biggest challenge of somethingThis could be the biggest challenge of his career.an intellectual/physical/technical etc challengeI love the physical challenge of climbing. Examples from the Corpus
challenge• Overcoming a natural resistance to change is a challenge faced by many companies that want to progress.• His biggest challenge with this unit will be motivation.• Our city challenge and other inner-city initiatives were enthusiastically received by local authorities and the private sector - particularly in the north-east.• How to preserve that involvement in an egalitarian context is one of the great challenges of modern society.• Deceptively strong, he can surprise opponents by riding heavy challenges.• It was an interesting challenge and I responded with alacrity.• Her legal challenge has been taken over by another prospective Citadel cadet, Nancy Mellette.• Holyfield accepted Lewis' challenge to fight for the title.• In grade school, Clint was a real challenge to all of his teachers.• Each lawyer may issue up to six challenges.• I like the challenge of learning new things.• This chapter has concentrated on the challenges of bureau work.the challenge of doing something• He loves the area and the fans, loves the challenge of trying to craft a winner out of dubious ingredients.• If you are primarily interested in the challenge of leadership, you might begin with Chapters 11 and / or 4.• In facing the challenge of drug abuse, the media have never been less monolithic.• It is only by offering women real choices that we can begin to meet the challenges of Hindutva.• It was enough to see off the challenge of unlucky Wimbledon in this replay at Selhurst Park.• Like all agencies operating in a squeezed market, it faces the challenge of achieving corporate growth.• So I knew I wanted a partner to share the challenge of having a business.• That was one of the challenges of his life.challenge to• The court will hear a challenge to a ban on write-in votes.threw down ... challenge• It was they, not we, who threw down the challenge.challengechallenge2 ●●● S3 W3 AWL verb [transitive] 1 question somethingACCEPT to refuse to accept that something is right, fair, or legal a boy with a reputation for challenging the authority of his teacherschallenge a view/an idea/an assumption etc Viewpoints such as these are strongly challenged by environmentalists. They went to the High Court to challenge the decision.challenge somebody to do something I challenge Dr. Carver to deny his involvement!2 competitionASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something to invite someone to compete or fight against you, or to try to win something → challenger, darechallenge somebody to something After lunch, Carey challenged me to a game of tennis.challenge for Liverpool are challenging for the title (=in a position where they could win).3 something difficultDIFFICULT to test the skills or abilities of someone or something SYN stimulate I’m really at my best when I’m challenged.challenge somebody to do something Every teacher ought to be challenging kids to think about current issues.4 stop somebodyPROVE to stop someone and demand proof of who they are, and an explanation of what they are doing We were challenged by the security guard at the gate.5 in lawSCT law to state before the start of a court case that a juror is not acceptable —challenger noun [countable] Lewis is his main challenger for the world title.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
challenge• We were challenging all the traditional methods of testing for poisons.• That claim has been challenged and much debated, but it seems to hold up.• Guards were ordered to challenge anyone entering the building.• Many doctors have challenged the accuracy of his findings.• Owner Fred Davies is challenging the council after being refused permission to convert the ailing hotel into a nursing home.• Billboard companies say they will challenge the new law in court.• The beatitudes are counter-cultural, because they correct and challenge the ways in which we understand happiness.• I challenge this assumption, and question the push into Putumayo.• He's a good choir director - he really challenges us.challenge ... decision• The local presbytery agreed, but 10 area churches challenged the decision.challenge somebody to something• She challenged him to a race and won.From Longman Business Dictionarychallengechal‧lenge /ˈtʃæləndʒ/ noun [countable]1ACCOUNTINGa careful check of the cash and shares etc held by the employees of a company, as part of an official check to discover if there has been any dishonesty2something difficult that you feel determined to solve or achieveNow the company’s challenge is to work out a plan to settle its $1.5 billion in debts.Population growth is the most formidable challenge facing the nation.3a refusal to accept that something is right and legalThe suit is a major challenge to Georgia’s election laws.Origin challenge2 (1200-1300) Old French chalengier “to accuse”, from Latin calumniari “to accuse falsely”, from calumnia; → CALUMNY 