argue

[ ahr-gyoo ]

/ ˈɑr gyu /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR argue ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), ar·gued, ar·gu·ing.

to present reasons for or against a thing: He argued in favor of capital punishment.

to contend in oral disagreement; dispute: The senator argued with the president about the new tax bill.

verb (used with object), ar·gued, ar·gu·ing.

to state the reasons for or against: The lawyers argued the case.

to maintain in reasoning: to argue that the news report must be wrong.

to persuade, drive, etc., by reasoning: to argue someone out of a plan.

to show; prove; imply; indicate: His clothes argue poverty.

Nearby words

argosy, argot, argovie, arguable, arguably, argue, argufy, argument, argumentation, argumentative, argumentum

Origin of argue

1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French arguer < Latin argūtāre, -ārī, frequentative of arguere to prove, assert, accuse (Medieval Latin: argue, reason), though Latin frequentative form attested only in sense “babble, chatter”

Related forms

ar·gu·er, nouncoun·ter·ar·gue, verb, coun·ter·ar·gued, coun·ter·ar·gu·ing.o·ver·ar·gue, verb, o·ver·ar·gued, o·ver·ar·gu·ing.re·ar·gue, verb, re·ar·gued, re·ar·gu·ing.

well-ar·gued, adjective

Synonym study

1, 2. Argue, debate, discuss imply using reasons or proofs to support or refute an assertion, proposition, or principle. Argue implies presenting one's reasons: The scientists argued for a safer testing procedure; it may also imply disputing in an angry or excited way: His parents argue all the time. To discuss is to present varied opinions and views: to discuss ways and means. To debate is to interchange formal (usually opposing) arguments, especially on public questions: to debate a proposed amendment.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for argues

He argues persuasively that the decision to launch the attack was completely contrary to reason and good military judgment.
Hitler’s Hail Mary|James A. Warren|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While 15 miles per week has benefits, “the sweet spot is probably around 30 miles of running per week,” Williams argues.
Running 15 Miles a Week Could Slash Alzheimer’s Risk|DailyBurn|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The instrumental view of culture has it wrong, she argues, and should be replaced with what she calls an “expressive view.”
The Insane Swedish Plan to Rate Games for Sexism|Nick Gillespie|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The video also argues that ISIS is collecting followers across the Middle East, even as far east as China.
A 26-Year-Old Woman Is ISIS’s Last American Hostage|Shane Harris|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Internet, ever becoming a greater part of the human experience, is at a crossroads, Dwyer argues in his book.
How Four Upstarts Built and Crashed the Anti-Facebook|Jake Whitney|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is the higher reason, which argues from the known to the unknown.
Astrology|Sepharial
Like Sancho Panza, he argues that the physician is worse than the disease.
Northern Spain|Edgar T. A. Wigram
She is even at times disagreeably pompous and authoritative, and preaches rather than argues.
Mary Wollstonecraft|Elizabeth Robins Pennell
Guyot argues on the other side of the question to account for the intellectual diversity of the races of mankind.
History of the Negro Race in America From 1619 to 1880. Vol 1|George W. Williams
He argues as Hamlet would argue, but with, I think, a more convinced hopelessness.
The Man Shakespeare|Frank Harris

British Dictionary definitions for argues

argue

/ (ˈɑːɡjuː) /

verb -gues, -guing or -gued

(intr) to quarrel; wranglethey were always arguing until I arrived

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

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

(tr; often passive) to debate or discussthe case was fully argued before agreement was reached

(tr) to persuadehe argued me into going

(tr) to give evidence of; suggesther looks argue despair

Derived Forms

arguer, noun

Word Origin for argue

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012