challenge

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈtʃæl.ɪndʒ/ or /ˈtʃæl.əndʒ/
• SAMPA: /"tS{l.IndZ/-@ndZ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular challenge

Plural challenges

1. (countable) A challenge is something difficult that you want or have to do.

   Many churches overseas are struggling to meet the AIDS challenge.

   After 25 years in the same job, this move will allow me to take on new challenges.

2. (countable) A challenge is an offer to compete or fight.

   The president issued a challenge to his critics to appear in a public debate.

Synonyms

• task

Verb

Plain form challenge

Third-person singular challenges

Past tense challenged

Past participle challenged

Present participle challenging

1. (transitive) If you challenge somebody, you give them something very difficult to do.

   The job challenges his computer skills.

2. (transitive) If you challenge somebody, you offer to compete or fight.

   He challenged me to a game of chess.

Related words

• challenging
• challenger