agree

verb \ ə-ˈgrē \

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of agree

agreed; agreeing

transitive verb

1 a : to concur in (something, such as an opinion) : admit, concede

They agreed that he was right.

b : to consent to as a course of action

She agreed to sell him the house.

2 chiefly British : to settle on by common consent : arrange

… I agreed rental terms with him …
—Eric Bennett

intransitive verb

1 : to accept or concede something (such as the views or wishes of another)

agree to a plan

2 a : to achieve or be in harmony (as of opinion, feeling, or purpose)

We agree in our taste in music.

b : to get along together

c : to come to terms

agree on a fair division of profits

3 a : to be similar : correspond

Both copies agree.

b : to be consistent

The story agrees with the facts.

4 : to be fitting, pleasing, or healthful : suit

This climate agrees with him.

5 grammar : to have an inflectional form denoting identity or other regular correspondence in a grammatical category (such as gender, number, case, or person)

See agree defined for English-language learners

See agree defined for kids

Examples of agree in a Sentence

We agreed about some things, but we disagreed about others.
She says that a change is needed, and I agree completely.
We can all agree on one thing: the current law needs to be changed.
Some critics have called the movie a masterpiece, but not everyone agrees.
The house is too big for one person, don't you agree?
She asked if she could go with him, and he agreed that she could.
The jurors were unable to agree a verdict.
The means of ending the dispute were finally agreed.

Recent Examples of agree from the Web

Planners say the law clearly allows for projects to be heard together and critics agree.

— j. harry jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Provision allowing county to expedite housing projects draws ire," 12 May 2018
The district partially dropped its opposition after all sides agreed to an initial release of videos that showed the inaction of a Broward sheriff’s deputy who resigned after the incident.

— david fleshler, Sun-Sentinel.com, "School district shuts down information after Stoneman Douglas shooting," 12 May 2018
Claims examiners continue to display ignorance, with just 10 percent agreeing to training that was only elective, the GAO report found last year.

— bill lambrecht, San Antonio Express-News, "Gulf War Illness," 12 May 2018
Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon told reporters that the American automaker agreed to other measures meant to ensure the company stays in South Korea for at least 10 years.

— Washington Post, "SKorea, GM agree on funding to help keep local unit afloat," 12 May 2018
By participating in the Contest, each entrant unconditionally accept and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which will be final and binding in all respects.

— Houston Chronicle, "Official Rules: Daily Playbook Newsletter TXSN Ticket Giveaway," 11 May 2018
The agency and advocates settled after the Department of Human Services agreed to dial back its use of hotels to by 2020 to just 24 instances a year.

— molly young, OregonLive.com, "Changes for Oregon's struggling foster care system: Longtime manager will be replaced," 11 May 2018
Now, President Donald Trump's administration has quietly killed the program, jeopardizing plans to verify the national emission cuts agreed to in the Paris climate accords.

— katie langin, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: NASA’s carbon monitoring cuts, a cancer drug flop, and the fight over one salmon gene," 11 May 2018
Legislators have expressed particular frustration that a $2-billion bond to help pay for additional housing, agreed to by Brown and lawmakers in 2016, has been tied up in court and remains unspent.

— liam dillon, latimes.com, "Gov. Jerry Brown offers part of a historic budget bonanza to help ease California's homelessness crisis," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agree.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of agree

Middle English agreen "to please, gratify, consent, concur," borrowed from Anglo-French agreer, from a-, verb-forming prefix (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -greer, verbal derivative of gré "gratitude, satisfaction, liking, pleasure, assent," going back to Latin grātum, neuter of grātus "thankful, received with gratitude, welcome, pleasant" — more at ¹grace

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

agree Synonyms

Phrases

come clean (about);

Synonym Discussion of agree

agree, concur, coincide mean to come into or be in harmony regarding a matter of opinion. agree implies complete accord usually attained by discussion and adjustment of differences.

- on some points we all can agree

concur often implies approval of someone else's statement or decision.

- if my wife concurs, it's a deal

coincide, used more often of opinions, judgments, wishes, or interests than of people, implies total agreement.

- their wishes coincide exactly with my desire

synonyms see in addition assent

AGREE Defined for English Language Learners

agree

verb

Definition of agree for English Language Learners

: to have the same opinion
: to say that you will do, accept, or allow something that is suggested or requested by another person
of two or more people or groups : to decide to accept something after discussing what should or might be done ( Brit )