discuss
Americanverb (used with object)
-
discusses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
discussed,
past participle, past
-
discussing
present participle
-
to consider or examine by argument, comment, etc.; talk over or write about, especially to explore solutions; debate.
to discuss the proposed law on taxes.
- Synonyms:
- deliberate, reason
-
Civil Law.
-
to collect a debt from (the person primarily liable) before proceeding against the person secondarily liable.
-
to execute against the movable property of (a debtor) before proceeding against the debtor's immovable property, as land.
-
-
Rare. to consume (food or drink) enthusiastically.
-
Obsolete. to make known; reveal.
verb
-
to have a conversation about; consider by talking over; debate
-
to treat (a subject) in speech or writing
the first three volumes discuss basic principles
-
facetious to eat or drink with enthusiasm
Usage
What does discuss mean? Discuss means to have a conversation about or talk about a particular topic, especially to examine it more closely, debate it, or figure out a solution. You can discuss something with another person or multiple people, or you can discuss something by talking or writing about it for an audience. Discuss tends to be used in contexts in which the topic is at least somewhat serious. The noun form of discuss is discussion. Example: Listen, class, the purpose of breaking into small groups is to discuss your projects—not to chat about your personal life.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
discussantnoun
-
discussernoun
-
overdiscussverb (used with object)
-
prediscussverb (used with object)
-
rediscussverb (used with object)
-
discussableadjective
-
discussibleadjective
-
nondiscussibleadjective
-
undiscussableadjective
-
undiscussibleadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
discusssimple
-
discussessimple
-
have discussedperfect
-
has discussedperfect
-
am discussingprogressive
-
are discussingprogressive
-
is discussingprogressive
-
have been discussingperfect progressive
-
has been discussingperfect progressive
Past
-
discussedsimple
-
had discussedperfect
-
was discussingprogressive
-
were discussingprogressive
-
had been discussingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of discuss
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, either from Anglo-French discusser or directly from Latin discussus “struck asunder, shaken, scattered,” past participle of discutere, equivalent to dis- dis- 1 + -cutere (combining form of quatere “to shake, strike”)
Explanation
To discuss is to talk: but with a more serious intent. Discussing is a lot more substantial than chatting. When someone says, "I have something I need to discuss with you," most people think "Uh oh." To discuss usually implies a certain amount of serious talking. This can apply to writing as well: essays discuss topics, usually in a careful, thorough way. On the other hand, sometimes discuss means exactly the same thing as talk or converse. Like all words, the meaning depends on how it’s used.
Vocabulary lists containing discuss
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Live Nation, meanwhile, was spending months trying to get a meeting at the DOJ to discuss its case but couldn’t get in the door, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
My financial adviser and I have plans to discuss preparing for this eventuality.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 23, 2026
Macron and MBS "will discuss key regional issues, in a context calling for close coordination between France and its Gulf partners to foster stability and peace" in the Middle East, according to Macron's office.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
Next week, host Susan Matthews joins Amicus co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern to discuss the blockbuster decisions handed down in June—and Gorsuch’s role in them.
From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026
Every other coven held meetings four times a year to discuss secret coven things in their grand houses.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Another group discusses how “One Battle After Another” features the most Nissan Sentra SE-R content of any movie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Amin discusses how he transformed a discount internet cosmetics company into a multibillion-dollar beauty powerhouse over the last 12 years, the brand’s success on TikTok and the $1 billion acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Skincare.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
The sold-out show called Cartwheel, which Knox will perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, discusses motherhood and how she will explain the case to her daughter.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
In this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick continues the “By the People” series, in which she discusses the landmark 2015 marriage-equality decision Obergefell with co-host Mark Joseph Stern and gay rights advocate Marc Solomon.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
While the rest of the group sips tea and discusses potential complications, I stand at the fence, blowing on Otto’s face and saying my good-byes.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
They discussed issues such as establishing "a special operations room" in Jordan under US supervision to prevent any confrontation in Syria, including involving Turkey, the sources added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
Another widely discussed subplot is tied to where Paloma Duffy should attend college.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
“We discussed what was off-limits and what wasn’t,” says Beracasa Beckman, whose home was also featured in Architectural Digest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
“My husband and I went away with our two children and we all sat down and discussed it.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 23, 2026
Sometimes they didn’t do more than wave, and sometimes they stopped and we discussed all manner of things.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
They spend plenty of time visiting the “Real World: Boston” house where Duffy reconnects with his erstwhile housemate, Montana McGlynn, and next to none discussing Boston’s pivotal role in igniting the American Revolution.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
This is likely one of the first choices to come to mind when discussing what should be included in your priority list, and that’s also why it made mine.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
In the final hours before Wednesday's deadline, negotiators were discussing a deal that would reduce US tariffs on Canadian autos from 25% to 15%, according to a Reuters report citing anonymous sources.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
At some point down the road—she and her husband are still discussing the timing, she said—“they will become shareholders.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Only a handful of people are huddled near the holographic pucks, discussing animatedly among themselves like my teachers debating about who the worst football team is.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
