CHALLENGE


Meaning of CHALLENGE in English

I. chal·lenge 1 S2 W2 AC /ˈtʃæləndʒ, ˈtʃælɪndʒ/ BrE AmE noun

[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ challenging , ↑ challenged ≠ ↑ unchallenged , ↑ unchallengeable ; noun : ↑ challenge , ↑ challenger ; verb : ↑ challenge ; adverb : ↑ challengingly ]

1 . SOMETHING DIFFICULT [uncountable and countable] something that tests strength, skill, or ability, especially in a way that is interesting

challenge 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 century

intellectual/physical challenge

the intellectual challenge of postgraduate research

2 . QUESTION SOMETHING [countable] when someone refuses to accept that someone or something is right and legal

challenge to

a direct challenge to the Governor’s authority

challenge 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 . COMPETITION [countable] when someone tries to win something or invites someone to try to beat them in a fight, competition etc

challenge 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] a demand from someone such as a guard to stop and give proof of who you are, and an explanation of what you are doing

5 . IN LAW [countable] law a statement made before the start of a court case that a ↑ juror is not acceptable

• • •

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs

▪ meet 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 challenge

Children enjoy a challenge so the work should not be too easy.

■ adjectives

▪ a big/major/huge/tremendous challenge

Building the tunnel presented a major challenge to engineers.

▪ a serious challenge

At 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 something

This could be the biggest challenge of his career.

▪ an intellectual/physical/technical etc challenge

I love the physical challenge of climbing.

II. challenge 2 S3 W3 AC BrE AmE verb [transitive]

[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ challenging , ↑ challenged ≠ ↑ unchallenged , ↑ unchallengeable ; noun : ↑ challenge , ↑ challenger ; verb : ↑ challenge ; adverb : ↑ challengingly ]

[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: chalengier 'to accuse' , from Latin calumniari 'to accuse falsely' , from calumnia ; ⇨ ↑ calumny ]

1 . QUESTION SOMETHING to refuse to accept that something is right, fair, or legal:

a boy with a reputation for challenging the authority of his teachers

challenge 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 . COMPETITION to invite someone to compete or fight against you, or to try to win something ⇨ challenger , dare

challenge 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 DIFFICULT 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 SOMEBODY 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 LAW 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.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.