conversation
Americannoun
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conversations
plural
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informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk.
how to master the art of conversation.
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such interchange by sign language, email, or other nonoral means of communication.
I enjoy our time on the phone, but she prefers conversation by texting.
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an instance of this.
I had a long phone conversation with my cousin in Florida.
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an informal public exchange of ideas or opinions about a particular issue; a dialogue.
It’s time for a global conversation about the epidemic.
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association or social intercourse.
a year's conversation with him as his caregiver and friend.
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the ability to talk socially with others.
She writes well but has no conversation.
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Obsolete.
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behavior or manner of living.
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close familiarity; intimate acquaintance, as from constant use or study.
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noun
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the interchange through speech of information, ideas, etc; spoken communication
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to talk in an artificial way
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of conversation
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English conversacio(u)n, from Latin conversātiōn- (stem of conversātiō ) “familiarity, conduct, behavior,” equivalent to conversāt(us), past participle of conversārī “to associate with” + -iōn- noun suffix; see origin at converse 1, -ion
Explanation
A conversation occurs when people talk to each other, like a conversation with your friend about school or professional basketball. The noun conversation comes from the Old French word of the same spelling, meaning "manner of conducting oneself in the world." When you have a conversation with another person or a group of people, you listen closely and respond appropriately, so that your conversation is a true exchange of ideas, not just people waiting for their turn to talk. A good conversation makes you feel heard, satisfied, and maybe even more informed.
Vocabulary lists containing conversation
The Language of the Test, List 3
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"Frankenstein" and "How Frankenstein Began"
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Speaking and Listening - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso spoke in July about a private conversation he had with Fernandez, who signed for £107m from Benfica in 2023, but declined to disclose details of the discussion.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Beyond the modeling conversation, longer potential lifespans have practical implications worth addressing now.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
Beyond the talk about medical diagnosis, the case has also kicked off a larger social media conversation about how pressured, isolated and overworked mothers feel.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
One of the most prevalent challenges for managers and leaders in a modern workplace is the lack of in-sync, face-to-face conversation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
How exactly is this conversation supposed to go?
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Those conversations have been preliminary and there is no active product under way, another person said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
He exchanged texts with Friedman, reviving conversations they’d had in his stint with the Dodgers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
I won’t comment on conversations with individual board members, but I’m happy to report that alignment exists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
As parents across the country prepare to wave their children off to university, conversations about family finances and the cost of living are growing ever more frequent - and fervent.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Let me look back at some of the earlier conversations we overheard, too....
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
