# contend vs contest

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### contend
*verb · IPA /kənˈtɛnd/ · frequency rank #13,692*
To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

### contest
*noun · IPA /ˈkɒn.tɛst/ · frequency rank #2,826*
Controversy; debate.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contend-vs-contest