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:
"The conversation was just so much less relevant at that time," says Charlotte.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Although loneliness and social isolation are often treated as the same thing in everyday conversation, researchers distinguish between them.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
“Not all 17 players who passed me were using performance enhancers—but some were. I take the conversation seriously, because it’s impacted my legacy and the legacies of many others.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
He refused to let Fox’s presenters dictate the terms of the conversation.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
This seemed like the sort of conversation two friends would have during a late-night heart-to-heart, not a casual chat between two strangers digging in the dirt.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
He and Oppenheim said it was Holmes who initiated conversations with independent entertainment company A24 about documenting her daily life.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Curo told the BBC it was "having ongoing conversations with Ms Young about how we can work together to resolve this, and we visited her at home this week to agree a way forward".
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Launched in 2009, the show was a pioneer of the long-form video-podcast format, with Rogan hosting fellow comedians, Hollywood A-listers, politicians, scientists and authors for wide-ranging conversations sometimes running over three hours.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
“You might post something on Facebook Marketplace and get 15 inquiries. Then you’ve got to keep track of 15 conversations about what you’ve posted,” Novack said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Our conversations are typically built on competitive sarcasm.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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.
