discuss
Americanverb (used with object)
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discusses,
present (3rd person singular)
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discussed,
past participle, past
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discussing
present participle
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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
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Civil Law.
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to collect a debt from (the person primarily liable) before proceeding against the person secondarily liable.
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to execute against the movable property of (a debtor) before proceeding against the debtor's immovable property, as land.
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Rare. to consume (food or drink) enthusiastically.
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Obsolete. to make known; reveal.
verb
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to have a conversation about; consider by talking over; debate
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to treat (a subject) in speech or writing
the first three volumes discuss basic principles
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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
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discussantnoun
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discussernoun
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overdiscussverb (used with object)
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prediscussverb (used with object)
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rediscussverb (used with object)
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discussableadjective
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discussibleadjective
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nondiscussibleadjective
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undiscussableadjective
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undiscussibleadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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discusssimple
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discussessimple
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have discussedperfect
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has discussedperfect
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am discussingprogressive
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are discussingprogressive
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is discussingprogressive
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have been discussingperfect progressive
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has been discussingperfect progressive
Past
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discussedsimple
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had discussedperfect
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was discussingprogressive
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were discussingprogressive
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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
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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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:
"They will discuss new ideas and proposals that American negotiators began developing with the Russians and Ukrainians during their recent visit to the region," one of the US sources familiar with the talks told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Asked about the possibility of Britain being kept out of the scheme, Lescure said: "Come back, and you'll be at the table, and we discuss all these things together."
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Wiseman says the show has yet to specifically talk about Bram Stoker’s bloodthirsty Count Dracula, but Port says the Halloween episode will discuss the coven’s distaste for vampire stereotypes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Then, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island joins to discuss SCOTUS’s new term and the climate case Suncor v.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
They’d discuss what kind of destiny the name would bestow upon the child.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns discusses his mother’s death from Covid-19 in a new campaign for Sanofi’s non-mRNA vaccine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
BBC culture correspondent Noor Nanji discusses his wild admission, as well as the show's latest twist.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Kaepernick’s book discusses his life up to this point, from his childhood and adolescence to his current justice activities and life with his wife, Nessa Diab, and daughter.
From Salon ● Sep. 29, 2026
His proposal discusses several possible mechanisms, including capability checkpoints, limits on computing power for AI training and restrictions on using AI to develop more advanced AI.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 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
Senior Boeing executives discussed the potential vulnerability of a rogue pilot being alone in the cockpit, according to people familiar with the discussions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The government in Kyiv had not yet received any official proposal, which is due to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit next week, he added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Both Mayfield and Driscoll discussed how the ultrashort investing style gives them opportunities to buy longer-term bonds that are maturing in the near term.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
“We have discussed having a festival in Los Angeles since before COVID,” Stern said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
It is not a topic that has ever been discussed in his presence, though Caroline once told him in secret she heard it was something of a scandal.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Welcome to “The Breakdown,” the ESPN2 show in which Manning and Kuechly provide different perspectives from opposite sides of the ball, discussing strategy, preparation and key storylines heading into marquee NFL matchups.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
With Samsung Electronics, AMD has been discussing not just chip supplies but the possibility of foundry cooperation, using Samsung’s most advanced process technology, according to reports.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
Hijazi and Gowan started by discussing marketing, Junger and Katz said in depositions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
He reflected on his own experience when discussing the importance of a quick payback.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Invisible boy led him to a book called Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and a bunch of posts discussing it, plus two movies titled The Invisible Man, one from 1933 and the other from 2020.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
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.
