conversation
Americannoun
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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.
Click here to discuss in our Circle Conversation.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Conversation flows easily as we chat and pizza is duly ordered.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
"The African Union is weak because its members want it that way," wrote two academics for The Conversation last year.
From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026
To understand what’s at stake, The Conversation turned to Cristina Bodea, a Michigan State University professor who has been studying central bank best practices for more than two decades.
From Salon • Jan. 16, 2026
If Donne read Kepler’s Conversation he would have found the link with Bruno spelled out.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
