dialogue
Americannoun
-
dialogues
plural
-
conversation between two or more persons.
-
the conversation between characters in a novel, drama, etc.
-
an exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular issue, especially a political or religious issue, with a view to reaching an amicable agreement or settlement.
-
a literary work in the form of a conversation.
a dialogue of Plato.
verb (used without object)
-
dialogues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dialogued,
past participle, past
-
dialoguing
present participle
-
to carry on a dialogue; converse.
-
to discuss areas of disagreement frankly in order to resolve them.
verb (used with object)
-
dialogues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dialogued,
past participle, past
-
dialoguing
present participle
noun
-
conversation between two or more people
-
an exchange of opinions on a particular subject; discussion
-
the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction
-
a particular passage of conversation in a literary or dramatic work
-
a literary composition in the form of a dialogue
-
a political discussion between representatives of two nations or groups
verb
-
(tr) to put into the form of a dialogue
-
(intr) to take part in a dialogue; converse
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dialoguesimple
-
dialoguessimple
-
have dialoguedperfect
-
has dialoguedperfect
-
am dialoguingprogressive
-
are dialoguingprogressive
-
is dialoguingprogressive
-
have been dialoguingperfect progressive
-
has been dialoguingperfect progressive
Past
-
dialoguedsimple
-
had dialoguedperfect
-
was dialoguingprogressive
-
were dialoguingprogressive
-
had been dialoguingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dialogue
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French dïalogue, Latin dialogus, from Greek diálogos; equivalent to dia- + -logue
Explanation
If you land a role in a local play, you will probably have to memorize several lines of dialogue. If you disagree with how that play is being produced, you may want to open up a dialogue with the director. Dialogue can refer to spoken lines in a dramatic performance such as a play, a film, or a television show. It is also any conversation between two or more people. On the written page, dialogue between characters is usually enclosed by quotation marks. When persons representing different political parties or different nations are said to engage in a dialogue, it means they are probably negotiating something of importance.
Vocabulary lists containing dialogue
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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AP English Lit exam terms
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Language and Grammar - 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:
“There’s a line of dialogue from ‘The Simpsons’ that my brother always reminds me of.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2026
The judges said they had compared the opening episode scripts for the two shows and found sufficient similarities in plot, themes, dialogue, mood, setting, pace, characters, graphic injury detail and sequence of events.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
"The choice for peace includes dialogue of course, but this is not surely equated with national interests for us," she said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
ABB said Thursday that it is in close dialogue with SoftBank and that the two companies are working constructively on the transaction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Though he could not see the stage, he could hear the dialogue.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
And the juxtaposition of objects within a room creates lively dialogues among the artifacts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
Shouldn’t a museum, of all places, be where complex dialogues about art and humanity can prosper?
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
“We want dialogues and discussions where the Cubans are the protagonists.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2026
She also said she was "open to various dialogues with China".
From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026
His weapons of choice were brief dialogues and verse.
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
I have not dialogued with her about the book, nor have I had the opportunity to read it.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 19, 2016
Thus foolishly dialogued I with my heart; and yet, all the time, this heart is Pamela.
From Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson
Dialogue is, indeed, the original word transferred bodily into the English language: διελογιζετο εν ἑαυτῳ—he dialogued in himself: his soul and he held a conversation on the subject.
From The Parables of Our Lord by William Arnot
In the scene in which it was produced the daring author has dialogued thus: Scene III Mlle.
From Beaumarchais and the War of American Independence by Elizabeth S. Kite
Beaumarchais soon left his horse for the carriage, and as no author dialogued better for the stage so no man ever brought more art into his conversation.
From Beaumarchais and the War of American Independence by Elizabeth S. Kite
“It feels like you’re dialoguing with your healthcare provider,” Merrill said.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
Interspersed throughout the story are black-and-white “mystical visions,” as Anderson calls them, in which Korda sees himself in heaven atoning for his sins and even dialoguing with God.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025
“In the comments, these people are actually dialoguing, actually talking to each other,” Blaschko said.
From Slate ● Mar. 14, 2022
He went past dialoguing with other world leaders to “trialoguing.”
From New York Times ● Dec. 2, 2018
And how could I do this better, than by dialoguing a little with him before them?
From Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 5 by Samuel Richardson
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