debate

[ dih-beyt ]

/ dɪˈbeɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR debate ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.

a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.

deliberation; consideration.

Archaic. strife; contention.

verb (used without object), de·bat·ed, de·bat·ing.

to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly: When we left, the men were still debating.

to participate in a formal debate.

to deliberate; consider: I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.

Obsolete. to fight; quarrel.

verb (used with object), de·bat·ed, de·bat·ing.

to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly: They debated the matter of free will.

to dispute or disagree about: The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.

to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.): Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.

to deliberate upon; consider: He debated his decision in the matter.

Archaic. to contend for or over.

Nearby words

debark, debarkation, debase, debasement, debatable, debate, debater, debauch, debauched, debauchee, debaucherous

Origin of debate

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English debaten < Old French debatre, equivalent to de- de- + batre to beat < Latin battere, earlier battuere; (noun) Middle English debat < Old French, derivative of debatre

SYNONYMS FOR debate

1 argument, controversy, disputation, contention.

5 dispute, contend.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR debate ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

de·bat·er, nounde·bat·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·de·bate, verb, in·ter·de·bat·ed, in·ter·de·bat·ing.non·de·bat·er, noun

non·de·bat·ing, adjectiveout·de·bate, verb (used with object), out·de·bat·ed, out·de·bat·ing.o·ver·de·bate, verb, o·ver·de·bat·ed, o·ver·de·bat·ing.post·de·bate, adjectivepre·de·bate, nounpre·de·bat·er, nounre·de·bate, noun, verb, re·de·bat·ed, re·de·bat·ing.un·de·bat·ed, adjectiveun·de·bat·ing, adjectivewell-de·bat·ed, adjective

Synonym study

5. See argue.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for debate

The debate over who really pulled off the Sony hack, then, could continue indefinitely.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And it must make sure that the platform of debate where we can freely exchange ideas is safe and sound.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They already know the answer, but they know by feigning ignorance they can create all this debate about it.
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire|William O’Connor|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They are already infinitely more qualified to have that debate than we are.
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide Journalism|Arthur Chu|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

During a debate, the candidates were asked about the islands.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz|Jeff Greenfield|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Times, referring to the debate on the Irish Church, remarked that the viceroyalty was more and more 'a mere ornament.'
The Land-War In Ireland (1870)|James Godkin
The Unionists leaders, however, whom we can absolutely trust, have decided that abstention from debate would be an error.
A Leap in the Dark|A.V. Dicey
They saw that a Bill had practically been thrown to the House to be moulded into shape by debate.
Lord Randolph Churchill|Winston Spencer Churchill
This debate over Pickering's list, as I say, still continues.
The American Language|Henry L. Mencken
The debate resulted in the adoption of the declaration by a vote of one hundred and forty-one against twenty-three.
History of Rationalism Embracing a Survey of the Present State of Protestant Theology|John F. Hurst

British Dictionary definitions for debate

debate

/ (dɪˈbeɪt) /

noun

a formal discussion, as in a legislative body, in which opposing arguments are put forward

discussion or dispute

the formal presentation and opposition of a specific motion, followed by a vote

verb

to discuss (a motion), esp in a formal assembly

to deliberate upon (something)he debated with himself whether to go

Derived Formsdebater, noun

Word Origin for debate

C13: from Old French debatre to discuss, argue, from Latin battuere

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

Word Origin and History for debate (1 of 2)

debate

late 14c., "to quarrel, dispute," also "discuss, deliberate upon the pros and cons of," from Old French debatre (13c., Modern French débattre), originally "to fight," from de- "down, completely" (see de-) + batre "to beat" (see battery). Related: Debated; debating.

Word Origin and History for debate (1 of 2)

debate

early 14c., "a quarrel, dispute, disagreement," from Old French debat; see debate (v.). Sense of "a formal dispute, a debating contest" is perhaps from early 15c.

debate

noun

verb (used without object), de·bat·ed, de·bat·ing.

verb (used with object), de·bat·ed, de·bat·ing.

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Origin of debate

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for debate

British Dictionary definitions for debate

debate

noun

verb

Word Origin for debate

Word Origin and History for debate (1 of 2)

debate

Word Origin and History for debate (1 of 2)

debate