argue
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.
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.
Origin of argue
1Other 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 PostDemocrats 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 | FortuneAs 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.
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 | FortuneBulls 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.
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 BEASTHe argues persuasively that the decision to launch the attack was completely contrary to reason and good military judgment.
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 BEASTThe 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 BEASTThe 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 BEASTThe obeying of several hints, of secret impulses, argues great wisdom.
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 HartleyHave 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 HartleyIn 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 BettsWhoever argues against these principles argues against the practicability of all free governments.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster | Daniel Webster
British Dictionary definitions for argue
/ (ˈɑːɡjuː) /
(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
1Derived 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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