argue

American  

[ahr-gyoo] / ˈɑr gyu /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Usage

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. 

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of argue

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”)

Example Sentences

The plaintiffs argue that the order violates Section 1 of the Constitution’s 14th amendment, which says “all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the U.S.”

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Critics argue the system rewards workers not for skill or experience, but for what their behavior reveals about their financial vulnerability.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

In court filings, county attorneys representing the Sheriff’s Department argue that several of the documents — such as FBI policies and internal procedures and training methods — are “sensitive and restricted.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

They also argue that employers should pay for many of the adaptations that are currently paid by taxpayers.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Camille is poised to argue more, but the ringing suddenly stops.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

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