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Showing results for debug. Search instead for debugs.
Synonyms

debug

American  
[dee-buhg] / diˈbʌg /

verb (used with object)

debugged, debugging
  1. to detect and remove defects or errors from.

  2. to remove electronic bugs from (a room or building).

  3. Computers. to detect and remove errors from (a computer program).

  4. to rid (a garden, plant, etc.) of insect pests, as by the application of a pesticide.


debug British  
/ diːˈbʌɡ /

verb

  1. to locate and remove concealed microphones from (a room, etc)

  2. to locate and remove defects in (a device, system, plan, etc)

  3. to remove insects from

"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

noun

    1. something, esp a computer program, that locates and removes defects in (a device, system, etc)

    2. ( as modifier )

      a debug program

"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

Other Word Forms

  • debugger noun

Etymology

Origin of debug

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + bug 1

Vocabulary lists containing debug

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.

New AI tools like Claude Code help write and debug software faster, and spin up a website or a marketing plan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

The quick turnaround raises questions about how much time county officials allotted to debug the software and train employees.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2025

That should help debug systems and also benefit safety, the researchers say: If an AI is planning something dangerous, a human operator can tell and can intervene.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 8, 2024

Bard will be able to code in 20 programming languages including Java, C++ and Python, and can also help debug and explain code to users, Google said on Friday.

From Reuters • Apr. 21, 2023

Undetectable unless you're running debug at the same time and looking for it.

From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Schwartau, Winn