argue

[ ahr-gyoo ]

See synonyms for: argue argued argues arguing 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.

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”)

Other words from argue

ar·gu·er, noun
coun·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-argued, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use argue in a sentence

Online, commentators and elected officials who have argued against mandating masks construed that the results supported their beliefs.
Inconclusive results, missing data: Experts push back on a study questioning the efficacy of masks | Meryl Kornfield | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post
Democrats argue that Facebook’s labels don’t do enough to stop the spread of misinformation, while Republicans say the company unfairly polices posts by conservatives.
Facebook reveals that massive amounts of misinformation flooded its service during the election | Danielle Abril | November 19, 2020 | Fortune
As researchers such as Harvard’s Daniel Lieberman have argued, humans evolved a bunch of traits like longer legs, less body hair, and elastic tendons that favor walking and running.
Rethinking the Cross-Training Paradox | Alex Hutchinson | November 19, 2020 | Outside Online
Designers, we have argued, bring unique skills and ways of thinking that can help managers without design training understand customers and tailor products and services for them.
How design keeps companies focused on people as the pandemic pushes businesses online | claychandler | November 17, 2020 | Fortune
Bulls will argue that stay-at-home orders have fundamentally shifted consumer behavior, forcing some who have resisted the app age to sign up UberEats or Instacart.
Can DoorDash maintain its pandemic boost? | Lucinda Shen | November 16, 2020 | Fortune

Breaking the will of ISIS, the military argues, is not a statistic.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE DAILY BEAST
The obeying of several hints, of secret impulses, argues great wisdom.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801) | Daniel Defoe
To see a hostess fidgeting, constantly going in and out, argues ill for her tact in arranging the house for company.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley
Have plenty of chairs ready in the drawing-room, as an invitation to dinner by no means argues a "stand up" party.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley
In the world of work there is no place for social life in the day-time, and it argues ill for those who indulge in it.
The Leaven in a Great City | Lillian William Betts
Whoever argues against these principles argues against the practicability of all free governments.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster | Daniel Webster

British Dictionary definitions for argue

argue

/ (ˈɑːɡjuː) /

verb-gues, -guing or -gued

(intr) to quarrel; wrangle: they 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 discuss: the case was fully argued before agreement was reached
(tr) to persuade: he argued me into going
(tr) to give evidence of; suggest: her looks argue despair

Origin of argue

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

Derived forms of argue

arguer, noun

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

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