Challenge
/ˈtʃælɪndʒ/
Definitions
2 meaningsA difficult task or contest; something that tests one's abilities.
/ˈtʃælɪndʒ/
A difficult task or problem.
The mountain climb was a real challenge.
💡 Simply: A challenge is like a puzzle or a game that's hard but fun to try to solve or win. Like trying to build the tallest LEGO tower, or beating your friend at a video game.
👶 For kids: Something hard to do.
More Examples
She accepted the challenge of running a marathon.
How It's Used
"The project presented a significant challenge."
"The athlete faced a formidable challenge in the final race."
To dispute or question; to invite to a contest.
/ˈtʃælɪndʒ/
To question or dispute.
I challenged his decision.
💡 Simply: To challenge someone means to question what they say or to invite them to a competition. Like when you ask your friend, "I bet I can run faster than you!"
👶 For kids: To ask someone to a race or game.
More Examples
They challenged each other to a race.
How It's Used
"He challenged the speaker's assumptions."
"She challenged her friend to a chess match."
Idioms & expressions
rise to the challenge
To accept and successfully deal with a difficult task or situation.
"She rose to the challenge and completed the project on time."
From Old French *chalenge, from Vulgar Latin *calumnia, from Latin calumnia "false accusation, slander, trickery". The modern meaning evolved from the sense of a formal accusation or dispute.
In older usage, 'challenge' more frequently referred to a formal accusation or dispute, often in a legal or formal context.
Memory tip
Think of it as something that calls you to engage in a test of skill.
Word Origin
"false accusation"