From Middle English debaten, from Old French debatre (“to fight, contend, debate, also literally to beat down”), from Romanic desbattere, from Latin dis- (“apart, in different directions”) + battuō (“to beat, to fence”).
Meanings
(ambitransitive, reciprocal) To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena.
a wise council […] that did debate this business 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends. 1709 August 21 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Wednesday, August 11, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 53; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC:
"Debate me, coward!" snarled the completely normal intellectual.
When the legislation was debated by the House of Commons, Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said it was "riddled with holes", while former Conservative Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was "badly written". 2024 March 20, Conrad Landin, “"Farcical" Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act isn't working”, in RAIL, number 1005, page 25:
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 25:9:
(intransitive, obsolete, reciprocal) To fight.
[…] wasteful Time debateth with Decay,
To change your day of youth to sullied night 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 15:
Well knew they both his person, sith of late / With him in bloudie armes they rashly did debate. 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.viii:
(obsolete, transitive) To engage in combat for; to strive for.
Volunteers […] thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardour in Spain as on the plains of Palestine. 1838, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: American Stationers’ Company; John B. Russell, →OCLC:
(transitive) To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide
tr müzakere (participate in a debate) · tr tartışma (participate in a debate) · te చర్చలలో పాల్గొను (participate in a debate) · hi बहस करना (participate in a debate) · cmn 辯論 /辩论 (participate in a debate) · nl uitpraten (participate in a debate) · cs debatovat (participate in a debate) · km សង្គ្រះ (participate in a debate) · cy dadlau (participate in a debate) · it discutere (participate in a debate) · hi वाद-विवाद करना (participate in a debate) · nl bespreken (participate in a debate) · grc βουλεύομαι (participate in a debate) · fa بحث کردن (participate in a debate) · el συζητώ (participate in a debate) · ru спори́ть (participate in a debate) · nl debatteren (participate in a debate) · hu megvitat (participate in a debate) · el συνεξετάζω (participate in a debate) · mi taupatupatu (participate in a debate) · ru дискути́ровать (participate in a debate) · mi whakaangaanga (To consider to oneself) · sq diskutoj (participate in a debate) · th โต้วาที (participate in a debate) · ca debatre (participate in a debate) · bg дебати́рам (participate in a debate) · hy բանավիճել (participate in a debate) · fi väitellä (participate in a debate) · te ప్రత్యేక చర్చ (participate in a debate) · es debatir (participate in a debate) · sw mdahalo (participate in a debate) · ru обсужда́ть (participate in a debate) · it decidere (To consider to oneself) · pt debater (participate in a debate) · km ធ្វើវិប្រតិការ (participate in a debate) · la disputō (participate in a debate) · hu vitatkozik (participate in a debate) · lv debatēt (participate in a debate) · de debattieren (participate in a debate) · hu vitázik (participate in a debate) · it riflettere (To consider to oneself) · gd connsaich (participate in a debate) · el αντιπαραθέτω (participate in a debate) · io debatar (participate in a debate) · uk спереча́тися (participate in a debate) · bg дискутирам (participate in a debate) · fr débattre (participate in a debate) · hi चर्चा करना (participate in a debate) · ko 토론하다 (participate in a debate) · sv debattera (participate in a debate) · sq debatoj (participate in a debate) · it dibattere (participate in a debate) · vi tranh luận (participate in a debate)
From Middle English debat, borrowed from Old French debat, deverbal of debatre, see Etymology 1 for more.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) An argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting, often with more than two people, generally ending with a vote or other decision.
After a four-hour debate, the committee voted to table the motion.
(countable, uncountable) An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views.
The debate over the age of the universe is thousands of years old.
The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use. 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
There was a bit of a debate over who should pay for the damaged fence.
(uncountable) Discussion of opposing views.
Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom. 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
There has been considerable debate concerning exactly how to format these articles.
(countable, uncountable) A type of literary composition, taking the form of a discussion or disputation, commonly found in the vernacular medieval poetry of many European countries, as well as in medieval Latin.
bn তর্ক (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ms perbahasan (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · pt discussão (discussion of opposing views) · fo orðaskifti (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · uk деба́ти (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sw mdahalo (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · arc פולמוס (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · cs debata (discussion of opposing views) · te వాదించు (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · mi taupatupatu (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · te చర్చించుకొను (discussion of opposing views) · oc debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ka დებატი (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sq debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hu vita (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ro polemică (discussion of opposing views) · sw mdahalo (discussion of opposing views) · id debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · gl debate (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ru пре́ния (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · nrf d'bat (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · af debat (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · az mübahisə (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · uk супере́чка (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ug مۇھاكىمە (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hi वाद-विवाद (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · tg мубоҳиса (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ka კამათი (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fi debatti (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ky таймаш (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hi वाद-विवाद (type of literary composition) · ms bahas (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · pl debata (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · bn মোনাজেরা (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · cy dadl (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · mk дебата (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ko 의논 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · vi tranh luận (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fi väittely (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · bg диску́сия (discussion of opposing views) · pt debate (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · fr débat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fa-ira مُناظِرِه (type of literary composition) · fa-ira مُناظَرِه (type of literary composition) · nrf d'bat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fr débat (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · tk çekisme (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · nl discussie (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · cs debata (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ota بحث (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sl debata (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · el συζήτηση (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · cs debata (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ca debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · lt debatai (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fa-ira بَحْث (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · fi väittely (discussion of opposing views) · uk диску́сія (discussion of opposing views) · nl meningsverschil (discussion of opposing views) · de Diskussion (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · hi वाद-विवाद (discussion of opposing views) · fa-ira مُباحِثِه (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · uk диску́сія (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · tt бәхәс (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · mi taupatupatu (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · tr tartışma (discussion of opposing views) · ru диску́ссия (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · be дыску́сія (discussion of opposing views) · sh debàta (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ky дебат (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ro discuție (discussion of opposing views) · bg рази́скване (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · bn বাহাস (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · kk жарыссөз (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · tr münazara (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · az müzakirə (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ja 討論 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ro discuție (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · cmn 討論 /讨论 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · th การโต้วาที (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · be дыску́сія (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ar مُنَاقَشَة (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · kk пікірталас (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · la disputātiō (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ar مُنَاظَرَة (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · gd connsachadh (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · hy քննարկում (discussion of opposing views) · he דִּיּוּן (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · be абмеркава́нне (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · de Debatte (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · mn мэтгэлцээн (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · te వాదించుకొను (discussion of opposing views) · fa-ira مُناظَرِه (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sv diskussion (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · th การโต้วาที (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · es debate (discussion of opposing views) · ug مۇنازىرە (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hu vita (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · vi bình luận (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sv debatt (discussion of opposing views) · grc συζήτησις (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · af debat (discussion of opposing views) · ru деба́ты (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ru обсужде́ние (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · bg деба́ти (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · lv debates (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ur مُباحَثَہ (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · te వ్యాసం రచన పోటీ (type of literary composition) · ro dezbatere (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · da debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · nb debatt (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · et debatt (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · bn বিতর্ক (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fi debatti (type of literary composition) · ro dezbatere (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ms debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · nl bespreking (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · lv pārrunas (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · pt debate (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ky кайымайтыш (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hi बहस (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · kk пікірсайыс (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · it discussione (discussion of opposing views) · it dibattito (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ro controversă (discussion of opposing views) · tr tartışma (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ru спор (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · tk jedel (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · es debate (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hy բանավեճ (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ru диску́ссия (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · kk дебат (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ja ディベート (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · it dibattito (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ja 議論 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · tg баҳс (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · bg обсъ́ждане (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · uz bahs (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · yue 辯論 /辩论 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · te వ్యాసరచన పోటీ (type of literary composition) · ro discuție (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · bn বিতর্ক (discussion of opposing views) · be дыску́сія (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · tg мунозира (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · uz munozara (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ka დებატები (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · grc συζήτησις (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · fo kjak (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · te చర్చలు (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hy վեճ (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ru диску́ссия (discussion of opposing views) · bn বিতর্ক (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ug مۇزاكىرە (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sv meningsutbyte (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · gd connsachadh (discussion of opposing views) · bn তর্ক (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sw mdahalo (type of literary composition) · bn তর্ক (discussion of opposing views) · uz muhokama (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · af debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · lv debates (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sv debatt (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · uz muzokara (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · nl discussie (discussion of opposing views) · be абмеркава́нне (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · sh деба̀та (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · vi thảo luận (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fr discussion (discussion of opposing views) · uk обміркува́ння (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · mn ᠮᠡᠳᠬᠡᠯᠴᠡᠭᠡᠨ (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fa-ira بَحْث (discussion of opposing views) · sw mdahalo (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · bg диску́сия (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · ko 토론 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · yue 討論 /讨论 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ru обсужде́ние (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · lv diskusija (discussion of opposing views) · cmn 辯論 /辩论 (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · eo debato (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fa-ira مُناظِرِه (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · te విమర్శించు (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · es debate (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · hu vita (discussion of opposing views) · ur بَحْث (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · et vaidlus (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · cmn 辯論 /辩论 (discussion of opposing views) · be дэба́ты (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · fa-ira بَحْث (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · hi बिबाद (informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views) · fi väittely (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · pt debate (discussion of opposing views) · de Streitgespräch (discussion of opposing views) · et väitlus (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · sk debata (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · kk сөз жарыстыру (discussion of opposing views) · mr विवाद (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · cmn 辯論 /辩论 (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · gd connsachadh (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · nl debat (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ur مُناظَرَہ (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · tr müzakere (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · el συζήτηση (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · ka პაექრობა (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · acw مُنَاظَرَة (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · la altercatio (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting) · uk диску́сія (argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting)