(sports) Contending for a title or championship.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, contention.
Source: en.wiktionary.orgI don't think nationalism is alone holding the field; it's in contention with a lot of different things. Peter Singer
Some guys have trouble sleeping the night before an important round. I never have. Invariably, I sleep longer and better, and have more dreams, when I'm in contention and feeling pressure. Thomas Watson
What is public history but a register of the successes and disappointments, the vices, the follies and the quarrels of those who engage in contention for power. William S. Paley
I mean, we make a 15-minute show that's incredibly silly, even though all of our scenic designers, puppet builders. animators, everybody that works on the show take their work very seriously. So somebody saying that we'd even be in contention for a very respectable award is really nice. Seth Green
I'm getting more and more comfortable out on the golf course with the changes I've been making. It's really just a confidence thing in that I love being in contention. Paula Creamer