cliffhanger
-athlon
dead heat
decision
photo finish
dogfight
semifinal
upsetter
semi
head-to-head
nip and tuck
neck and neck
defeat
gala
licking
even
level
standoff
tie
draw
tied
cannon fodder
long shot
cough up
contest
competition
fight to the finish
squeeze out
top dog
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
battle
Hunger Games
walkover
loser
in the lead
upset
take up the cudgels
measure strength
unbeatens
also-ran
quarterfinal
side
default
subcontest
Mexican standoff
race
trench warfare
lanterne rouge
each way
mop up
qualifier
finish
unbackable favourite
slugfest
rematch
final
daily double
reign
rubber match
tug-of-war
accord
field
conformity
lose
uneven
behind
stakeswin
trail
upsolve
accordance
edge out
mismatched
intercompetition
drawn
run-in
contender
outsider
challenger
victor
down
rival
game
Vietnam
go home
knockout
needle match
podium position
competitor
gladiator
unbackable
hippodrome
head-to-head
nip and tuck
neck and neck
even
level
tied
each way
uneven
behind
mismatched
intercompetition
drawn
down
knockout
unbackable
each way
cliffhanger
dead heat
decision
photo finish
dogfight
semifinal
upsetter
semi
defeat
gala
licking
standoff
tie
draw
cannon fodder
long shot
contest
competition
fight to the finish
top dog
battle
Hunger Games
walkover
loser
upset
unbeatens
also-ran
quarterfinal
side
default
subcontest
Mexican standoff
race
trench warfare
lanterne rouge
qualifier
finish
unbackable favourite
slugfest
final
daily double
rubber match
tug-of-war
accord
field
conformity
stakeswin
accordance
run-in
contender
outsider
challenger
victor
rival
game
Vietnam
needle match
podium position
competitor
hippodrome
cough up
squeeze out
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
take up the cudgels
measure strength
draw
mop up
rematch
reign
lose
trail
upsolve
edge out
go home
gladiator
suffix
adj
noun
adv
adj
- of the score in a contest
- equal in degree or extent or amount; or equally matched or balanced
- symmetrically arranged
- occurring at fixed intervals
verb
adv
- used as an intensive especially to indicate something unexpected
- in spite of; notwithstanding
- to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons
- to the full extent
adj
- divisible by two
- being level or straight or regular and without variation as e.g. in shape or texture; or being in the same plane or at the same height as something else (i.e. even with)
noun
adj
- of the score in a contest
- having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
- not showing abrupt variations
- being on a precise horizontal plane
- oriented at right angles to the plumb
noun
- a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
- a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
- a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
- height above ground
- indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid
- a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line
- an abstract place usually conceived as having depth
- a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale
verb
noun
- the finish of a contest in which the score is tied and the winner is undecided
- neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
- a social or business relationship
- equality of score in a contest
- a horizontal beam used to prevent two other structural members from spreading apart or separating
- a fastener that serves to join or connect
- (music) a slur over two notes of the same pitch; indicates that the note is to be sustained for their combined time value
- one of the cross braces that support the rails on a railway track
- a cord (or string or ribbon or wire etc.) with which something is tied
verb
- fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord
- finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc.
- limit or restrict to
- connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
- form a knot or bow in
- create social or emotional ties
- perform a marriage ceremony
- make by tying pieces together
- unite musical notes by a tie
noun
- the finish of a contest in which the score is tied and the winner is undecided
- a gully that is shallower than a ravine
- an entertainer who attracts large audiences
- anything (straws or pebbles etc.) taken or chosen at random
- a playing card or cards dealt or taken from the pack
- a golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer
- (American football) the quarterback moves back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the fullback who is running toward the line of scrimmage
- poker in which a player can discard cards and receive substitutes from the dealer
- the act of drawing or hauling something
verb
- cause to move by pulling
- get or derive
- make a mark or lines on a surface
- make, formulate, or derive in the mind
- bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover
- represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface
- take liquid out of a container or well
- give a description of
- select or take in from a given group or region
- elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.
- suck in or take (air)
- move or go steadily or gradually
- remove (a commodity) from (a supply source)
- choose at random
- earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher
- bring or lead someone to a certain action or condition
- to obtain a liquid from somewhere
- write a legal document or paper
- engage in drawing
- move or pull so as to cover or uncover something
- allow a draft
- require a specified depth for floating
- pull (a person) apart with four horses tied to his extremities, so as to execute him
- cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense
- take in, also metaphorically
- direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
- thread on or as if on a string
- stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow)
- pass over, across, or through
- finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc.
- shrink
- reduce the diameter of (a wire or metal rod) by pulling it through a die
- steep; pass through a strainer
- remove the entrails of
- flatten, stretch, or mold metal or glass, by rolling or by pulling it through a die or by stretching
- cause to localize at one point
noun
- A contest, a struggle.
- A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions of an army are or may be engaged; a combat, an engagement.
- battle buddy
verb
- To render (land, soil, etc.) fertile or fruitful.
- To feed or nourish (someone or something).
- To join in battle; to contend in fight
- To fight or struggle; to enter into a battle with.
adj
noun
- A bye or victory awarded to a competitor when a scheduled opponent fails to play a game.
- An easy victory; a walkaway.
- Someone easy to defeat.
- An ecological survey carried out by walking across and examining a piece of land.
- Someone who does not stand up for themself when mistreated; a doormat
- A horse race with only one entrant.
- A backbend combined with a handstand.
- A type of railroad passenger car seat, having reversible seat backs that can be moved across the seat to face either direction of travel
prep_phrase
noun
- An unexpected victory of a competitor or candidate that was not favored to win.
- An upper set; a subset (X,≤) of a partially ordered set with the property that, if x is in U and x≤y, then y is in U.
- The dangerous situation where the flight attitude or airspeed of an aircraft is outside the designed bounds of operation, possibly resulting in loss of control.
- An overturn.
- Disturbance or disruption.
- An upset stomach.
verb
- To be upset or knocked over.
- To shorten (a tire) in the process of resetting, originally by cutting it and hammering on the ends.
- To make (a person) angry, distressed, or unhappy.
- To tip or overturn (something).
- To defeat unexpectedly.
- To thicken and shorten, as a heated piece of iron, by hammering on the end.
- To disturb, disrupt or adversely alter (something).
adj
noun
- one of two or more contesting groups
- a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
- either the left or right half of a body
- a surface forming part of the outside of an object
- an extended outer surface of an object
- an aspect of something (as contrasted with some other implied aspect)
- a line segment forming part of the perimeter of a plane figure
- a family line of descent
- a lengthwise dressed half of an animal's carcass used for food
- an opinion that is held in opposition to another in an argument or dispute
- an elevated geological formation
- (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist
adj
verb
noun
- A loss incurred by failing to compete.
- The condition of failing to meet an obligation.
- The condition of being an obligation that has not been met.
- The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.
- the original software programming settings as set by the factory
- A selection made in the absence of an alternative.
- A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed.
verb
noun
- any competition
- a contest of speed
- people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock
- (biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species
- the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller
- a canal for a current of water
verb
verb
- To win a competition decisively.
- After they argued, it fell to me to talk to her and try to mop up.
- To get rid of (enemies) within a certain area.
- To clean up an area destroyed by a natural disaster or by violent activity.
- To pitch the final innings especially of a game that is no longer close.
- To consume or get rid of an excess of something.
- To finish something off; to apply a finishing touch
- To fix problems; to correct or repair.
- To clean up (liquid) with a mop, rag, sponge, or other cleaning device.
- To absorb the leftovers of a dish with bread etc., in order to eat them.
noun
- A preliminary stage of a competition.
- One who qualifies for something, especially a contestant who qualifies for a stage in a competition.
- A marker that qualifies or modifies another code element.
- A word or phrase, such as an adjective or adverb, that describes or characterizes another word or phrase, such as a noun or verb; a modifier; that adds or subtracts attributes to another.
noun
- designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race)
- a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
- the temporal end; the concluding time
- a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
- the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
- the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict)
- event whose occurrence ends something
- (wine tasting) the taste of a wine on the back of the tongue (as it is swallowed)
- the act of finishing
verb
noun
- all the competitors in a particular contest or sporting event
- a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
- a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought
- somewhere (away from a studio or office or library or laboratory) where practical work is done or data is collected
- a branch of knowledge
- the space around a radiating body within which its electromagnetic oscillations can exert force on another similar body not in contact with it
- a particular kind of commercial enterprise
- a particular environment or walk of life
- a piece of land prepared for playing a game
- extensive tract of level open land
- (mathematics) a set of elements such that addition and multiplication are commutative and associative and multiplication is distributive over addition and there are two elements 0 and 1
- a region in which active military operations are in progress
- all of the horses in a particular horse race
- a geographic region (land or sea) under which something valuable is found
- (computer science) a set of one or more adjacent characters comprising a unit of information
- the area that is visible (as through an optical instrument)
- a place where planes take off and land
verb
verb
- To fail to win (a game, competition, trial, etc).
- To cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.
- To shed (weight).
- To fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss.
- To cause (something) to cease to be in one's possession or capability due to unfortunate or unknown circumstances, events or reasons.
- To have (an organ) removed from one's body, especially by accident.
- To shed, remove, discard, or eliminate.
- To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; to go astray from.
- To cause (someone) the loss of something; to deprive of.
- To be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer.
- To experience the death of (someone to whom one has an attachment, such as a relative or friend).
- To be deprived of access to something.
- To cease exhibiting; to overcome (a behavior or emotion).
- To give or owe (money) after losing a bet.
- Of a clock, to run slower than expected.
verb
- To be losing, to be behind in a competition.
- To show a trailer of (a film, TV show etc.); to release or publish a preview of (a report etc.) in advance of the full publication.
- To run or climb like certain plants.
- To leave (a trail of).
- To carry (a firearm) with the breech near the ground and the upper part inclined forward, the piece being held by the right hand near the middle.
- To transport (livestock) by herding it along a trail.
- To hang or drag loosely behind; to move with a slow sweeping motion.
- To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).
- To drag oneself lazily or reluctantly along.
- To travel by following or creating trails.
- To drag (something) behind on the ground.
- To create a trail in.
noun
- A trailer broadcast on television for a forthcoming film or programme.
- The track or indication marking the route followed by something that has passed, such as the footprints of animal on land or the contrail of an airplane in the sky.
- A walk in which all the edges are distinct.
- A route for travel over land, especially a narrow, unpaved pathway for use by hikers, horseback riders, etc.
- A route or circuit generally.
- The horizontal distance from where the wheel touches the ground to where the steering axis intersects the ground.
adj
- Having a lower score than an opponent.
- Sad, unhappy, depressed, feeling low.
- Mechanically failed, collided, shot down, or otherwise suddenly unable to fly.
- Sick or ill.
- Negative about; hostile to.
- Comfortable with, accepting of.
- Wounded and unable to move normally, or killed.
- Facing downwards.
- Fallen or felled.
- At a lower level than before.
- Accepted, respected, or loyally participating in the (thug) community.
- Finished (of a task); defeated or dealt with (of an opponent or obstacle); elapsed (of time). Often coupled with to go (remaining).
- Out.
- Thoroughly practiced, learned or memorised; mastered. (Compare down pat.)
- Inoperable; out of order; out of service.
verb
- To disparage; to put down.
- To drink or swallow, especially without stopping before the vessel containing the liquid is empty.
- To knock (someone or something) down; to cause to come down; to fell.
- Specifically, to cause (something in the air) to fall to the ground; to bring down (with a missile etc.).
- To render (the ball) dead, typically by touching the ground while in possession.
- To lower; to put (something) down.
- To defeat; to overpower.
- To sink (a ball) into a hole or pocket.
- To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down.
noun
- The pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of the seeds of certain plants, such as the thistle.
- That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down.
- Down payment.
- A hill, especially a chalk hill; rolling grassland
- A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep.
- Soft, fluffy immature feathers which grow on young birds. Used as insulating material in duvets, sleeping bags and jackets.
- The soft hair of the face when beginning to appear.
- An act of swallowing an entire drink at once.
- A negative aspect; a downer, a downside.
- A clue whose solution runs vertically in the grid.
- A downstairs room of a two-story house.
- The lightest quark with a charge number of −¹⁄₃.
- A field, especially one used for horse racing.
- A single play, from the time the ball is snapped (the start) to the time the whistle is blown (the end) when the ball is down, or is downed.
adv
- At or towards any place that is visualised as 'down' by virtue of local features or local convention, or arbitrarily, irrespective of direction or elevation change.
- So as to reduce size, weight or volume.
- From less to greater detail.
- So as to lessen quantity, level or intensity.
- Forward, straight ahead.
- In the direction leading away from the principal terminus, away from milepost zero.
- To the south (as south is at the bottom of typical maps).
- From a higher position to a lower one; downwards.
- At a lower or further place or position along a set path.
- As a down payment.
- On paper (or in a durable record).
- Get down.
- Into a state of non-operation.
- To a subordinate or less prestigious position or rank.
- Towards the opponent's side (in ball-sports).
- Away from the city (regardless of direction).
- Used with verbs to indicate that the action of the verb was carried to some state of completion, permanence, or success rather than being of indefinite duration.
- From a remoter or higher antiquity.
- So as to secure or compress something to the floor, ground, or other (usually horizontal) surface.
prep
noun
- a contest with rules to determine a winner
- a single play of a sport or other contest
- an amusement or pastime
- animal hunted for food or sport
- (tennis) a division of play during which one player serves
- (games) the score at a particular point or the score needed to win
- the flesh of wild animals that is used for food
- a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
- the game equipment needed in order to play a particular game
- your occupation or line of work
- frivolous or trifling behavior
adj
verb
adj
- Causing elimination from a competition.
- Rendering someone unconscious.
- Designating an organism in which a particular gene has been removed or deactivated.
- Amazing; gorgeous; beautiful.
noun
- Something wildly popular, entertaining, or funny.
- The deactivation of anything.
- The act of making one unconscious, or at least unable to come back on one's feet within a certain period of time; a TKO.
- A very attractive person, especially a beautiful woman.
- The deactivation of a particular gene.
- A tournament in which a team or player must beat the opponent in order to progress to the next round.
- A partially punched opening meant for optional later removal.
- A creature engineered with a particular gene deactivated.
- An event where a foreground color causes a background color not to print.
- A simple game for two or more players, derived from basketball.
English words for 'a contest whose outcome is uncertain up to the very end'
As you may have noticed, above you will find words for "a contest whose outcome is uncertain up to the very end". Hover the mouse over the word you'd like to know more about to view its definition. Click 
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