argue

[ahr-gyoo]

verb (used without object)

argued, arguing 

1. to present reasons for or against a thing.

   He argued in favor of capital punishment.

2. to contend in oral disagreement; dispute.

   The senator argued with the president about the new tax bill.

verb (used with object)

argued, arguing 

1. to state the reasons for or against.

   The lawyers argued the case.

2. to maintain in reasoning.

   to argue that the news report must be wrong.

3. to persuade, drive, etc., by reasoning.

   to argue someone out of a plan.

4. to show; prove; imply; indicate.

   His clothes argue poverty.

argue

/ ˈɑːɡjuː /

verb

1. (intr) to quarrel; wrangle

   they were always arguing until I arrived

2. (intr; often foll by for or against) to present supporting or opposing reasons or cases in a dispute; reason

3. (tr; may take a clause as object) to try to prove by presenting reasons; maintain

4. (tr; often passive) to debate or discuss

   the case was fully argued before agreement was reached

5. (tr) to persuade

   he argued me into going

6. (tr) to give evidence of; suggest

   her looks argue despair

Other Word Forms

• arguer noun
• counterargue verb
• overargue verb
• reargue verb
• well-argued adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of argue¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French arguer, from Latin argūtāre, argūtārī “to babble, chatter,” frequentative of arguere “to prove, assert, accuse” (in Medieval Latin: “to argue, reason”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of argue¹

C14: from Old French arguer to assert, charge with, from Latin arguere to make clear, accuse; related to Latin argūtus clear, argentum silver

Example Sentences

A temporary restraining order would prevent agencies "determining how best to organize their workforces", they argued, noting that the government has traditionally been granted the widest latitude in the "dispatch of its own internal affairs".

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The government argues it has broad authority to detain people who are in the US illegally.

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The Justice Department argues that Bondi is entitled to make inmate assignments.

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For these groups, art is a generational asset that can also be enjoyed, Mr Vazirani argues.

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The UK government said Chagossians were expected to make their own housing arrangements prior to travelling and argued the influx of arrivals was "completely unrelated" to the Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius.

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Related Words

• appeal 
• assert 
• claim 
• contend 
• defend 
• demonstrate 
• explain 
• indicate 
• maintain 
• plead 
• present 
• suggest 
• testify 

When To Use

What are other ways to say argue?

To argue is to present reasons for or against a thing or to contend in oral disagreement. How does argue compare to discuss and debate? Find out on Thesaurus.com.