challenge */*/*/

I UK [ˈtʃælɪndʒ] / US [ˈtʃæləndʒ] noun
Word forms "challenge":
singular challenge plural challenges

1) [countable/uncountable] something that needs a lot of skill, energy, and determination to deal with or achieve, especially something you have never done before and will enjoy doing

I was bored with my job and felt I needed a new challenge.

meet a challenge (= deal with it successfully):

Are western nations ready to meet the enormous environmental challenges that lie ahead?

challenge of:

We were all keen walkers, and enjoyed the challenge of this remote place.

the challenge is to do something:

The challenge for policy-makers is to achieve economic growth without damaging the environment.

face a challenge (= have to deal with one):

The new government faces the daunting challenge of completing the building on time.

•

Collocations:
Adjectives frequently used with challenge
▪  biggest, daunting, formidable, greatest, major, new, serious Verbs frequently used with challenge as the object ▪  accept, enjoy, face, meet, pose, present, relish, rise to

2) [countable] an action or idea that questions whether something is true, accurate, or legal

He began a legal challenge to clear his name.

challenge to:

There seems to be no significant challenge to the party's free-market ideology.

pose/present a challenge to something:

Recent discoveries pose a serious challenge to accepted views on the age of the universe.

a) a refusal to accept someone's authority

challenge to:

The strike was seen as a direct challenge to the authority of the government.

mount a challenge (= make one):

They have failed to mount a serious challenge to the existing leadership.

b) legal a refusal to accept someone as a member of a jury

3)

a) [countable] an invitation to someone to compete or fight, especially in sport

challenge for:

Agassi returned to make a major challenge for the Wimbledon title.

issue a challenge:

One of the men issued the challenge, "I'll take on any two of you."

b) [singular] used in the names of competitions, especially sports competitions

one of the golfers competing in the Million Dollar Challenge

II UK [ˈtʃælɪndʒ] / US [ˈtʃæləndʒ] verb [transitive]
Word forms "challenge":
present tense I/you/we/they challenge he/she/it challenges present participle challenging past tense challenged past participle challenged

1) to question whether something is true, accurate, or legal

No one has challenged the assumptions that are made in the report.

This decision is likely to be challenged by the oil companies.

challenge someone on something:

They're not likely to challenge us on any of the details.

challenge someone to do something:

We challenged the company to prove that its system was safe.

a) to refuse to accept someone's authority

The president has accused the provincial government of challenging his leadership.

b) legal to refuse to accept someone as a member of a jury

2) to invite someone to compete or fight

challenge someone to something:

The girls challenged the boys to a cricket match.

3) to test someone's skill and abilities

My present job doesn't really challenge me.

It is a problem that has intrigued and challenged me for many years.

4) [usually passive] if you are challenged by someone, they ask you who you are and why you are in a particular place

We were immediately challenged by armed guards.