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:
But the Fair Games Coalition claims she responded to their requests to meet and discuss their concerns by resigning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
During meetings to discuss the dolls, Bob often would regale us with stories of celebrities he worked with, complete with dish about who was fun to work with and who was more “challenging.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Joon Sung Park, chief executive of AI startup Simile, and Tilak Mandadi and Sri Narasimhan of CVS Health discuss the practical applications, accuracy and enterprise potential of AI-driven human behavior simulations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
When asked about the possibility of a performance from Swift at last, Eavis laughed and said she didn't want to discuss the line-up any more.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 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
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
He discusses a theory of human morality embracing three ethics that drive human behavior: autonomy, divinity and community.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
The Red Bull driver is renowned for his straight talking but now, as he discusses his 2026 season so far in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, he is at his most uncompromising.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
On the latest episode of ICYMI, host Kate Lindsay discusses why TikTok is starting to feel like Twitter in the worst way.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
Next week is teen week, the time of month when Amu discusses topics of interest to young people on his website, and there’s always a host of interesting questions that his blog posts generate.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Meanwhile, when devolution deals were first being discussed, a proposal was put forward for one mayor for all of Yorkshire.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Jolin discussed the team’s play with the staff member, those staffers said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
It said that Denise could have been offered a second lumpectomy rather than full breast removal, but acknowledged the option had never been discussed with her.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Mosaku also discussed her forthcoming maternity wear line, Iyadé, in her latest British Vogue interview.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
So, during dinner they quietly discussed the various jobs they'd been ordered to do in America.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
From her bed she follows events in Ukraine and abroad, discussing everything from US President Donald Trump's policies, to anti-corruption protests in Kyiv, and the Epstein files.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Full EU membership is off the table, but the two sides are discussing deeper cooperation on defense, energy, AI and digital rules, along with certain types of mutual visa-free travel and work arrangements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Micron stock was reacting to news that Intel and SK Hynix are discussing U.S. memory-chip manufacturing.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
The two sides are discussing joining up their research and cloud data projects and working together on energy, space and quantum computing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
She regarded me pleasantly, as if we were discussing what hymn to play next.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
