Dictionary

argue en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˈɑː.ɡjuː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂erǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *h₂érǵus Proto-Italic *argusder.? Latin arguōder. Old French arguerbor. Middle English arguen English argue From Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin arguere (“to declare, show, prove, make clear, reprove, accuse”), q.v. for more. Displaced native Old English flītan and reċċan.

Meanings

1. To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
   • To have killed Laploshka was one thing; to have kept his beloved money would have argued a callousness of feeling of which I was not capable. 1910, Saki [pseudonym; Hector Hugh Munro], “The Soul of Laploshka”, in Reginald in Russia and Other Sketches, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC, page 69:
   • Yusuf Bangura argues that the contractocracy thesis merely falls within what he called "third option" explanation. 1997, Rufa'i Ahmed Alkali, The World Bank and Nigeria, page 10:
   • The new increase in crime argues for even tougher jail sentences, according to some.
2. (intransitive) To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints; to controvert; to wrangle.
   • He argued as follows: America should stop Lend-Lease convoying, because it needs to fortify its own Army with the supplies.
   • There is no arguing with true believers in any ideology or arrangement in which the self-interest of those in power is the organizing principle of the system. 2022 October 28, Charles Hugh Smith, What Does Liberation Mean in the Real World?:
   • The two boys argued over a disagreement about the science project.
   • He also argued for stronger methods to be used against China.
3. (intransitive) To have an argument, a quarrel.
   • Dave Merrill: You and Dad were arguing again. Kate Merrill: We weren't arguing. We were talking... loudly. 1999 February 3, Anthony Horowitz et al., “Strangler's Wood”, in Midsomer Murders:
4. (transitive) To present (a viewpoint or an argument therefor).
   • Food manufacturers would argue that food additives and chemical-laden packaging extend shelf life, keep food production costs down, and enhance flavors; chemical manufacturers would argue that their various pesticides and herbicides protect crops and help farmers. 2018, Kristin Lawless, Formerly known as food, →ISBN, page 192:
   • After his actions were challenged by foreign governments and Parliament initially tried to put a stop to his action, Denman returned home and argued his case with enough force that, by 1848, the Royal Navy was handed active permission and encouragement to raze every last slave factory they could find to the ground, and full authority to stop any ship, of any flag, that was thought to be a slaver, with a guarantee with^([sic]) no censure from the government. 2018 December 1, Drachinifel, 9:45 from the start, in Anti-Slavery Patrols - The West Africa Squadron, archived from the original on 29 Nov 2024:
   • Nonetheless, Girard argues, the very fact that Christians have chosen to forgive and thus not to answer violence directly with violence is itself already a huge victory. 2008 November 24, Giles Fraser, “On the Genealogy of Morals, part 5: Breaking the cycle of conflict”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • He argued his point.
   • He argued that America should stop Lend-Lease convoying because it needed to fortify its own Army with the supplies.
5. (obsolete, transitive) To prove.
6. (obsolete, transitive) To accuse.

Forms

Deriveds

arguer · overargue · arguability · argue down · argle-bargle · argue like a married couple · downarg · argue round and round · argie-bargie · don't argue · argufy · arguee · unarguing · argy-bargy · counterargue · outargue · argue the toss · reargue · argue like an old married couple · arguesome · underargue · unargued · argue out · arguable

Descendants

argue · 拗撬 · 丫撬

Relateds

argumentation · argumentative · argument

Synonyms

altercate · bicker · remonstrate · wrangle · spar · submit

Translations (173)

uk спереча́тися (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ko 논하다 (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · mww sib cav (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · sv hävda (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi argumentoida (to present a viewpoint) · ru спо́рить (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ja 論ずる (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ca argumentar (to present a viewpoint) · ang flītan (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · vec begar (to have an argument, a quarrel) · de diskutieren (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ru спо́рить (to have an argument, a quarrel) · id membantahkan (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · got 𐍃𐌰𐌺𐌰𐌽 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · cs hádat se (to have an argument, a quarrel) · bg спо́ря (to have an argument, a quarrel) · it litigare (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ro discuta (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ro a aduce argumente (to have an argument, a quarrel) · mr भांडणे (to have an argument, a quarrel) · sc pretare (to have an argument, a quarrel) · cs prokazovat (to present a viewpoint) · km ឈ្លោះ (to have an argument, a quarrel) · it sostenere (to present a viewpoint) · fr se disputer (to have an argument, a quarrel) · mh akwāāl (to have an argument, a quarrel) · de erörtern (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · pl argumentować (to present a viewpoint) · ml വാദിക്കുക (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · es argüir (to present a viewpoint) · sv gräla (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ja 喧嘩する (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ang flītan (to have an argument, a quarrel) · pt brigar (to have an argument, a quarrel) · gd connsaich (to have an argument, a quarrel) · fa دعوا کردن (to have an argument, a quarrel) · cmn 辯論 /辩论 (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · hu vitatkozik (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · bg спо́ря (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · qu maqanakuy (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · hy վիճել (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · nb argumentere (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · my ရန်ဖြစ် (to have an argument, a quarrel) · cmn 吵架 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · kea briga (to have an argument, a quarrel) · mn маргах (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · pl posprzeczać się (to have an argument, a quarrel) · kea diskuti (to have an argument, a quarrel) · sv argumentera (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · la iurgō (to have an argument, a quarrel) · uli hachoocho (to have an argument, a quarrel) · it dibattere (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · id memperdebatkan (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fr débattre (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ca discutir (to have an argument, a quarrel) · wa si disburtiner (to have an argument, a quarrel) · es argumentar (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · cy dadlau (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi väitellä (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · be паспрача́цца (to have an argument, a quarrel) · gul aa’gyfy (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi riidellä (to have an argument, a quarrel) · sh спорити (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · hu vitázik (to have an argument, a quarrel) · sh sporiti (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · kea brigá (to have an argument, a quarrel) · kea diskutí (to have an argument, a quarrel) · hy վիճաբանել (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · wa si dispetroner (to have an argument, a quarrel) · rup mi ntsertu (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ru аргументи́ровать (to present a viewpoint) · ro pleda (to have an argument, a quarrel) · es argüir (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ar جَادَلَ (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ka კამათი (to have an argument, a quarrel) · wa si margayî (to have an argument, a quarrel) · pt discutir (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi riidellä (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · hu érvel (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · cs argumentovat (to present a viewpoint) · uk спо́рити (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · uk аргументува́ти (to present a viewpoint) · it contestare (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · chr ᎠᏘᏲᎯᎭ (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ga áitigh (to show grounds for concluding, indicate, imply) · es discutir (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ko 의논하다 (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi väitellä (to have an argument, a quarrel) · es reñir (to have an argument, a quarrel) · nl betogen (to present a viewpoint) · fi väittää (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ar حَاجَّ (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · es argüir (to show grounds for concluding, indicate, imply) · grc νεικέω (to have an argument, a quarrel) · he התווכח \ הִתְוַכֵּחַ (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ka განხილვა (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · zdj ushinɗana (to have an argument, a quarrel) · cs debatovat (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi vaatia (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · he טען (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ca argüir (to present a viewpoint) · es argumentar (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ar نَاقَشَ (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · th ทะเลาะ (to have an argument, a quarrel) · sc brigare (to have an argument, a quarrel) · fi väittää (to present a viewpoint) · fi kiistellä (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ro certa (to have an argument, a quarrel) · shi ⵏⵏⴰⵖ (to have an argument, a quarrel) · de streiten (to have an argument, a quarrel) · az sözə gəlmək (to have an argument, a quarrel) · yue 拗撬 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · pt discutir (to have an argument, a quarrel) · pt debater (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · th ถก (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi esittää (to present a viewpoint) · es porfiar (to have an argument, a quarrel) · sc allegare (to have an argument, a quarrel) · yue 丫撬 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ka კამათობს (to have an argument, a quarrel) · got 𐌾𐌹𐌿𐌺𐌰𐌽 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · hy վիճել (to have an argument, a quarrel) · pl sprzeczać się (to have an argument, a quarrel) · it discutere (to have an argument, a quarrel) · de argumentieren (to present a viewpoint) · bn তর্ক (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ko 다투다 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · izh riijellä (to have an argument, a quarrel) · da argumentere (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ru ссо́риться (to have an argument, a quarrel) · hu kifejt (to present a viewpoint) · cmn 爭辯 /争辩 (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · tr tartışmak (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · izh riijellä (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · es argumentar (to show grounds for concluding, indicate, imply) · fi osoittaa (to show grounds for concluding, indicate, imply) · th เถียง (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · es argumentar (to present a viewpoint) · es polemizar (to have an argument, a quarrel) · it discutere (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · yue 拗 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · be спрача́цца (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ka კამათი (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fr affirmer (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · wuu 吵相罵 /吵相骂 (to have an argument, a quarrel) · hu vitatkozik (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ang reċċan (to present a viewpoint) · tr münakaşa etmek (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · pt argumentar (to present a viewpoint) · be спрача́цца (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ary تْدابْزو (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ja 議論する (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · pt arguir (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · vi cãi (to have an argument, a quarrel) · sl prepirati se (to have an argument, a quarrel) · it argomentare (to present a viewpoint) · es argüir (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · zdj umana (to have an argument, a quarrel) · hy պնդել (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · kea karkuti (to have an argument, a quarrel) · gd connsaich (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · pt argumentar (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · ja 議論する (to have an argument, a quarrel) · cs diskutovat (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · az mübahisə etmək (to have an argument, a quarrel) · ru обсужда́ть (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · fi väittää vastaan (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · wa si dispiter (to have an argument, a quarrel) · nl redetwisten (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints) · tr kavga etmek (to have an argument, a quarrel) · tr tartışmak (to have an argument, a quarrel) · fr se quereller (to have an argument, a quarrel) · vi tranh luận (to debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints)