debate

1 of 2

noun

de·​bate di-ˈbāt How to pronounce debate (audio)
dē-
: a contention by words or arguments
Our polite chat about politics became a heated debate.
The case sparked a raging public debate on property rights.
: such as
a
: a regulated discussion of a proposition (see proposition entry 1 sense 1b) between two matched sides
the last presidential debate before the election
the debate's moderator
b
law and government : the formal discussion of a motion (see motion entry 1 sense 3a) before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure

debate

2 of 2

verb

debated; debating

transitive verb

1
a
: to argue about
the subject was hotly debated
b
: to engage (an opponent) in debate
a governor debating her challenger
2
: to turn over in one's mind : to think about (something, such as different options) in order to decide
still debating what to do

intransitive verb

1
: to participate in a debate
the six primary candidates who debated last night
2
a
: to contend in words
b
: to discuss a question by considering opposed arguments
3
obsolete : fight, contend
debatement noun
debater noun
Choose the Right Synonym for debate

discuss, argue, debate mean to discourse about in order to reach conclusions or to convince.

discuss implies a sifting of possibilities especially by presenting considerations pro and con.

discussed the need for a new highway

argue implies the offering of reasons or evidence in support of convictions already held.

argued that the project would be too costly

debate suggests formal or public argument between opposing parties

debated the merits of the amendment

; it may also apply to deliberation with oneself.

I'm debating whether I should go

Examples of debate in a Sentence

Noun The candidates participated in several debates before the election was held. The meaning of the text has been the subject of considerable debate among scholars for many years. Verb Scholars have been debating the meaning of the text for years. Whether or not the tax cuts benefit the lower classes is still hotly debated among economists. The energy bill is currently being debated in Congress. The President debated his challenger in front of a live audience on Tuesday. The students debated for an hour.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
That decision was criticized as polarized, sparking similar public debate about the Supreme Court’s role and fair elections. Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 In March, 2021, after intense debate among members of the Administration and Congress, Biden signed a $1.9-trillion package. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 The most notable change involved gas stoves — a debate that proved particularly contentious. Tik Root / Grist, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Such controls have also appeared in recent debate about the economy, with some prominent economic analysts subjected to social media restrictions that seem designed to restrict their ability to speak out. Simone McCarthy, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 Whether the comeback story will be a fully successful one is up for debate. Jonathan Abrams, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Their social media post follows an escalating political debate in Germany over the closing ceremony last weekend where award winners were allowed to call out the Israeli government for its actions in the war in Gaza. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 For those just arriving, being caught in the middle of the nation’s debate over immigration can feel perplexing. Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 An Emerson College Poll taken last week, after the Feb. 12 debate, found 17% of voters undecided, down significantly from last month. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
Insights from Professionals: Tax Attorney vs CPA Accounting and legal professionals often debate the roles and advantages of tax attorneys versus CPAs, each bringing unique expertise. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Courts and legal groups had for months debated the meaning of the post-Civil War provision at the center of the case, language that prohibits certain officials who took an oath to support the Constitution – and then engaged in insurrection – from serving in office again. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 After a week of meetings — where lawmakers (nominally) debate the policies and (more often) praise the top leadership — the work report is passed, usually with only cosmetic changes. Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 At Trinity, Tahseen listened as his classmates shared their experiences interacting with the police and debated whether Black Americans could ever be treated as full citizens. Rozina Ali, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 According to Reuters, the government will stop the law going into effect without seeking any public consultation or debate on the matter. Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 This analyst, however, said that was just far too early to call, while many other analysts and market watchers are feverishly debating whether the market is approaching bubble levels. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 In a 2021 interview with USA TODAY, speaking about Americans debating over COVID-19 vaccines, McGraw urged people not to listen to athletes or celebrities – including himself. USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 While there are theories about the causes of this surge, from the loss of vital public services to the falling stigma around talking about mental health, what can’t be debated is the real-world impacts of increasing instances of poor mental well-being. Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French debatre, from de- + batre to beat, from Latin battuere

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of debate was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near debate

Cite this Entry

“Debate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

debate

1 of 2 noun
de·​bate di-ˈbāt How to pronounce debate (audio)
: a verbal argument: as
a
: the discussion of a motion before a legislature
b
: a regulated discussion of a problem between two matched sides

debate

2 of 2 verb
debated; debating
1
: to discuss or examine a question often publicly by presenting and considering arguments on both sides
2
: to take part in a debate
3
: to present or consider the reasons for and against : consider
debater noun

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