challenge
challenge — noun
1. a situation or task that needs a lot of effort, skill, or determination to deal
a situation or task that needs a lot of effort, skill, or determination to deal with successfully
Finding a job after university was a real challenge for Leila.
real challenge — emphasizes difficulty
The new software project poses a significant challenge for the engineering team.
Rohan rose to the challenge and completed the marathon despite his injury.
collocation: rise to the challenge
Learning Mandarin as an adult was the biggest challenge Kofi had ever faced.
The challenge of running a small business during a recession tested everyone's patience.
pattern: the challenge of + gerund
- face a challenge
- take on a challenge
- rise to the challenge
- pose a challenge
- meet a challenge
- overcome a challenge
- real challenge
- biggest challenge
- difficulty
more general; a challenge implies something that tests your ability, not just any hard thing
- ordeal
a very unpleasant and difficult experience, stronger tone
- obstacle
something that blocks progress; a challenge is something you take on willingly
Grammar Patterns
challenge + to-infinitive
the challenge of + noun/gerund
Usage Note
Commonly used with verbs like face, meet, take on, rise to, overcome, and pose. B1-level learners should focus on the collocations face a challenge and take on a challenge first.
Common Mistakes
2. an offer or suggestion to someone that they should compete against you in a game
an offer or suggestion to someone that they should compete against you in a game, fight, contest, or argument
Tomás accepted his friend's challenge to a game of chess after dinner.
pattern: accept + challenge + to + noun
The senator issued a public challenge to her opponent for a live televised debate.
collocation: issue a challenge
Beatriz took up the challenge of running against the two-time champion.
took up the challenge — idiom-like phrasing
Tomás threw down a challenge to anyone who doubted his cooking skills.
- issue a challenge
- accept a challenge
- take up a challenge
- throw down a challenge
- challenge to a duel/game/contest
- dare
more personal and provocative; a dare often tests bravery rather than skill
- invitation
neutral; a challenge implies competition or conflict
Grammar Patterns
challenge + to-infinitive
challenge to + noun
Usage Note
Often used in fixed phrases: issue a challenge, accept a challenge, take up a challenge. The person receiving the challenge can respond by accepting or declining it.
3. a type of online event where people record themselves carrying out an unusual ta
a type of online event where people record themselves carrying out an unusual task and then send the video to others, asking them to do the same thing, sometimes to collect donations
The ice-bucket challenge raised millions of dollars for medical research in 2014.
named real-world challenge
Aiko's dance challenge video got over a million views on social media within a week.
The charity challenge encouraged people to donate money while completing a fun task.
charity challenge — common collocation
Yara nominated three friends to take part in the cooking challenge.
- challenge video
- charity challenge
- dance challenge
- take on a challenge
- nominate someone for a challenge
Usage Note
Social media challenges are typically informal and often follow a 'nominate three friends' format. The phrase go viral is commonly used with this sense.
4. a statement or action that questions whether something is true, right, or legall
a statement or action that questions whether something is true, right, or legally valid, expressing disagreement or doubt
The lawyer's challenge to the witness's statement caused the judge to call a recess.
pattern: challenge to + noun (what is being questioned)
Several voters filed a formal challenge against the results of the election.
collocation: file a challenge
The judge dismissed the defence's challenge to the DNA evidence as having no legal basis.
No one raised a challenge when the board voted to change the company policy.
- challenge to
- file a challenge
- raise a challenge
- dismiss a challenge
- legal challenge
- formal challenge
- acceptance
agreeing that something is true or valid
Grammar Patterns
challenge to + noun
Usage Note
Frequently used in legal and formal contexts. Distinguish from noun sense 1 (DIFFICULT JOB): this sense is about questioning validity, not about difficulty. Often followed by to + noun (the thing being questioned).
5. a demand made by a guard or soldier for someone to stop moving and prove who the
a demand made by a guard or soldier for someone to stop moving and prove who they are, especially at a border crossing or military checkpoint
"Halt!" shouted the guard. "That's a challenge — identify yourself right now!"
direct speech with challenge marked
The soldier responded to the sentry's challenge by giving the correct password for the night.
collocation: sentry's challenge
The border guard issued a challenge to the approaching vehicle before it reached the gate.
Anyone who failed to answer the guard's challenge was taken in for questioning.
- sentry's challenge
- guard's challenge
- issue a challenge
- respond to a challenge
- password challenge
Usage Note
A very specific military and security sense. The challenge is issued to check whether the person is friendly or hostile. The expected response is a password or proper identification.
6. the legal right of a lawyer to object to a specific person being chosen as a jur
the legal right of a lawyer to object to a specific person being chosen as a juror, usually because of concerns about their fairness or impartiality
The defence lawyer filed a challenge against a juror who seemed biased against the defendant.
challenge used as a legal tool
Each side in a trial may make a limited number of challenges without giving a reason.
limited number of challenges — legal procedure
The prosecutor filed a challenge against three potential jurors during the selection process.
The judge denied the final challenge, ruling that the juror was qualified to serve.
- legal challenge
- challenge a juror
- peremptory challenge
- challenge for cause
- defence challenge
Usage Note
This is a technical legal term. In many legal systems, each lawyer can make a 'peremptory challenge' (no reason needed) or a 'challenge for cause' (with a stated reason).
challenge — verb
1. to invite or dare someone to compete against you, take part in a contest, or pro
to invite or dare someone to compete against you, take part in a contest, or prove something about their abilities
Diego challenged his younger brother to a race around the park.
pattern: challenge + object + to + noun
I challenge you to solve this riddle without looking at the answer online.
pattern: challenge + object + to-infinitive
The chess champion challenged anyone in the hall to a game.
Nadia challenged her colleagues to donate blood at the hospital this weekend.
Leila challenged me to a bet, but I refused because I knew I would lose.
- challenge someone to
- challenge someone to do something
Grammar Patterns
challenge + object + to-infinitive
challenge + object + to + noun
Usage Note
The most common pattern is challenge [someone] to [something] or challenge [someone] to [do something]. The object is the person being challenged.
Common Mistakes
2. to express disagreement with something or to question whether it is true, right,
to express disagreement with something or to question whether it is true, right, or valid, often by presenting arguments against it
Hana challenged the teacher's explanation and asked for more evidence to support it.
challenge + noun (the claim being questioned)
Several scientists challenged the accuracy of the study's conclusions.
The new study challenges the old idea that breakfast is the most important meal.
pattern: challenge a belief / idea / assumption
No one in the meeting challenged the CEO's decision, even though many had doubts.
Priya challenged whether the proposed plan would actually reduce costs.
pattern: challenge whether/if clause
- challenge a view
- challenge an idea
- challenge a decision
- challenge the validity
- challenge the accuracy
- challenge authority
Grammar Patterns
challenge + noun/that-clause
challenge + whether/if clause
Usage Note
Common with nouns like idea, assumption, view, decision, authority, validity, accuracy. This sense is B2 level and appears frequently in academic and professional contexts.
Common Mistakes
3. to put someone's abilities, strength, determination, or patience to the test by
to put someone's abilities, strength, determination, or patience to the test by presenting them with a difficult situation
The final exam really challenged the students' knowledge of advanced mathematics.
challenge + noun (what is tested)
Climbing Mount Fuji challenged both Priya's physical strength and her mental toughness.
This new role will challenge you to think creatively and solve problems under pressure.
pattern: challenge + object + to-infinitive
The difficult customer challenged the patience of even the most experienced staff member.
- challenge someone's ability
- challenge someone's patience
- challenge someone's strength
- challenge the mind
- ease
to make less difficult
Grammar Patterns
challenge + object
Usage Note
Distinguish from verb sense 1 (INVITE): this sense does not involve inviting someone to compete; it is about a situation or task that naturally tests a person's qualities. The subject is often a situation, task, or experience, not a person.
4. to require a person arriving at a security point to stop moving and provide thei
to require a person arriving at a security point to stop moving and provide their name and reason for being there
The guard challenged everyone who tried to enter the military base after dark.
A security officer challenged Nadia as she approached the embassy entrance.
The soldiers at the checkpoint challenged the driver and asked to see his travel documents.
security context: challenged + asked for documents
Any visitor who is challenged by the gatekeeper must present valid identification.
passive form: be challenged by
- challenge a visitor
- challenge at the gate
- challenged by the guard
- challenge for identification
Usage Note
Typically used in security and military contexts. The person issuing the challenge expects verification of identity or purpose. The passive form is common: 'He was challenged by the guard.'
5. to formally object to the selection of a particular person to serve on a jury, u
to formally object to the selection of a particular person to serve on a jury, usually because you believe they cannot be fair
The defence lawyer challenged the juror because of his personal link to the case.
Both the prosecution and the defence can challenge a limited number of potential jurors.
legal context: both sides can challenge jurors
The judge asked the attorney to explain why she wanted to challenge that particular juror.
If a juror is challenged and removed, a new name is drawn from the pool.
passive: juror is challenged and removed
- challenge a juror
- challenge the jury selection
- right to challenge
Usage Note
A specialized legal term. The object of challenge is the individual juror (not the whole jury). Related legal terms include 'challenge for cause' and 'peremptory challenge.'
Word family
- challengernounB1
- challengingadjectiveB1
- challengedadjectiveB2
- unchallengedadjectiveC1
- unchallengeableadjectiveC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These four words all describe something hard to deal with, but they differ in emphasis. Challenge (noun/1) carries a positive or neutral tone — it suggests a test of ability that one might willingly take on ('She saw the project as a welcome challenge'). Difficulty is the most general word for anything hard, without the notion of testing or opportunity ('He had difficulty finding the address'). Obstacle is something concrete or abstract that blocks forward progress ('Lack of funding was a major obstacle'). Ordeal is much stronger and implies a prolonged, painful experience ('The court case was an ordeal for the family'). Problem suggests an undesirable situation that needs a solution ('Traffic is a serious problem in this city'). In short: choose challenge when the situation tests skill and can be embraced, difficulty for general hardship, obstacle for blocking factors, ordeal for suffering, and problem for something that needs fixing.
Common collocations
Phrases
- face a challenge
- rise to the challenge
- take on a challenge
- meet a challenge
- pose a challenge
- issue a challenge
- accept a challenge
- challenge someone to something
- challenge the status quo
Etymology
The word challenge entered English through Old French 'chalenge' (meaning an accusation, claim, or dispute), which itself came from Latin 'calumnia' (a false accusation or trick). Over time, the meaning shifted from accusing someone of something to calling someone out to defend themselves — and eventually to the modern sense of inviting someone to compete or testing someone's ability.