/ ˈtʃæləndʒ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a new or difficult task that tests sb's ability and skill :
an exciting / interesting challenge
The role will be the biggest challenge of his acting career.
to face a challenge (= to have to deal with one)
Destruction of the environment is one of the most serious challenges we face.
Schools must meet the challenge of new technology (= deal with it successfully) .
2.
an invitation or a suggestion to sb that they should enter a competition, fight, etc. :
to accept / take up a challenge
to mount a challenge
3.
challenge (to sth) a statement or an action that shows that sb refuses to accept sth and questions whether it is right, legal, etc. :
It was a direct challenge to the president's authority.
Their legal challenge was unsuccessful.
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to question whether a statement or an action is right, legal, etc.; to refuse to accept sth
SYN dispute :
The story was completely untrue and was successfully challenged in court.
She does not like anyone challenging her authority.
This discovery challenges traditional beliefs.
2.
challenge sb (to sth) to invite sb to enter a competition, fight, etc.; to suggest strongly that sb should do sth (especially when you think that they might be unwilling to do it) :
[ vn ]
Mike challenged me to a game of chess.
[ vn to inf ]
The opposition leader challenged the prime minister to call an election.
3.
[ vn ] to test sb's ability and skills, especially in an interesting way :
The job doesn't really challenge her.
4.
[ vn ] to order sb to stop and say who they are or what they are doing :
We were challenged by police at the border.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the senses accusation and accuse ): from Old French chalenge (noun), chalenger (verb), from Latin calumnia calumny, calumniari slander.