Synonyms

discuss

American

[dih-skuhs] / dɪˈskʌs /

verb (used with object)

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.
1. to collect a debt from (the person primarily liable) before proceeding against the person secondarily liable.
2. 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.

discuss British

/ dɪˈskʌs /

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

"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

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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.

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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:

discuss discusses discussed discussing

The Villa boss held talks with the hierarchy on Wednesday to discuss the club's future, with all parties keen on extending his time at Villa Park.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

A gaggle of Slatesters convenes to discuss live.

From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026

Editor’s note: In this Future View, students discuss the recent riots in France.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Sullivan declined to discuss any potential criminal implications.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

The letter went on to discuss the finer points of the multiplication tables, in precise and painfully dull detail.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Councilmember Raman discusses soaring electrical bills outside a DWP distributing station in North Hollywood on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026

His Dust Bowl chapter discusses New Deal institutions such as the Home Owner’s Loan Corp. and the Federal Housing Administration, which promoted ownership with subsidized credit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

There is no mistaking a strong Gallic twang as Balshaw, who celebrated the first ATP Tour victory of his career this week, discusses his journey.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

She explores why so many people eschew these products and discusses how to tell whether they make sense for you.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

What he accomplished in Iceland inspired the film, which discusses the so-called Fischer Boom of increased chess activity, post-1972.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

If you think these sorts of biases took place in your interview, Roy says you can send the company a subject access request, external to see how they discussed your application internally.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Although legislators have not discussed Social Security reform at length, proposals have floated around about ways to fix the program’s financing woes.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

Though he offered few specifics, Becerra discussed his priorities throughout the campaign.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

The U.S. and Israel have discussed phasing out grants, but the president’s comments suggest it could occur much faster than expected.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

“We also discussed our unique position with regard to the current situation, and we were given the all-clear to implement Operation Willy Wonka.”

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Mayoral candidate Nithya Raman fired part-time campaign staffer Eric Cheng on the weekend before Tuesday’s election, saying he made “reprehensible” remarks on a video where he was discussing a U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

He joked it should be renamed after him and spent considerable time discussing Washington, D.C. construction projects and resurrecting conspiracy theories about monument vandals.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

"All our work group chats immediately blew up. Everyone started messaging each other, discussing what was happening. And what I found fascinating was how quickly we turned the whole thing into a joke."

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

But von der Leyen used the term after landing in Montreal on Wednesday, saying the sides will "start discussing how to make Canada the first associate member of the EU."

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

I did not feel like discussing Charles’s personal business with Henry.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023