dialogue

1 of 2

noun

di·a·logue ˈdī-ə-ˌlȯg

-ˌläg

variants or less commonly dialog

Synonyms of dialogue next

: a written composition in which two or more characters are represented as conversing

: a conversation between two or more persons

also : a similar exchange between a person and something else (such as a computer)

: an exchange of ideas and opinions

organized a series of dialogues on human rights

: a discussion between representatives of parties to a conflict that is aimed at resolution

a constructive dialogue between loggers and environmentalists

: the conversational element of literary or dramatic composition

very little dialogue in this film

writes realistic dialogue

: a musical composition for two or more parts suggestive of a conversation

dialogue

2 of 2

verb

dialogued; dialoguing

transitive verb

: to express in dialogue

… and dialogued for him what he would say …—

Shakespeare

intransitive verb

: to take part in a dialogue

managers dialoguing with employees

Did you know?

Dialectic: Logic Through Conversation

Dialectic is a term used in philosophy, and the fact that it is closely connected to the ideas of Socrates and Plato is completely logical—even from an etymological point of view. Plato’s famous dialogues frequently presented Socrates playing a leading role, and dialogue comes from the Greek roots dia- (“through” or “across”) and -logue (“discourse” or “talk”). Dialect and dialectic come from dialecktos (“conversation” or “dialect”) and ultimately back to the Greek word dialegesthai, meaning “to converse.”

Conversation or dialogue was indeed at the heart of the “Socratic method,” through which Socrates would ask probing questions which cumulatively revealed his students’ unsupported assumptions and misconceptions. The goal, according to the definition in our Unabridged Dictionary, was to “elicit a clear and consistent expression of something supposed to be implicitly known by all rational beings.”

Other philosophers had specific uses of the term dialectic, including Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Kantianism, Hegelianism, and Marxism. Asking a series of questions was considered by Socrates a method of “giving birth” to the truth, and a related word, maieutic, defined as “relating to or resembling the Socratic method of eliciting new ideas from another,” comes from the Greek word meaning “of midwifery.”

Example Sentences

Noun He is an expert at writing dialogue. There's very little dialogue in the film. The best part of the book is the clever dialogue. Students were asked to read dialogues from the play. The two sides involved in the labor dispute are trying to establish a dialogue. The two parties have been in constant dialogue with each other. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For Sellers and Muhammad, the dialogue is both spoken and unspoken. —

Peter Marks, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2023 The pope sidestepped a question about how the Vatican’s relationship with Taiwan affects the dialogue. —

Nicole Winfield, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2023 The dialogue in all of these films is invigorating, trenchant, surprising. —

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2023 The film boasts some of the best dialogue of any Hitchcock film and makes substantial use of music. —

Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2023 The dialogue between her and Cuff is witty and memorable, and there’s incredible attention to detail in Athia’s world and history through the game’s many collectibles. —

George Yang, Variety, 23 Jan. 2023 The dialogue was also pretty linear and being driven by the action around us. —

Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2023 Business, art, but above all fashion: these are the pillars of the dialogue reproduced — with a little editing — below. —

Luke Leitch, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2023 For now, that dialogue is more simulated than real. —

Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2023

Verb

Visitors are encouraged to dialogue with artists whose works-in-progress are on view June 4 through June 25. —

Matt Cooperlistings Coordinator, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 How might our politics look different if sincerity claims were an invitation to dialogue rather than a conversation-stopper? —

Charles Mccrary, The New Republic, 4 Apr. 2022 Be sure to regularly dialogue with your employees about stress management and burnout, formally through surveys and informally through check-ins. —

Naz Beheshti, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022 In behind-the-scenes footage shared to her Story, El Moussa and Richards lip synched along to dialogue from her Netflix show. —

Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE.com, 4 Feb. 2022 There will be time at the end of the program for audience members to dialogue with the performers. —

Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2021 Typically done after a project is completed, snapshots enable managers to dialogue with employees about their performance while the project is still top of mind. —

Lisa Bodell, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 Who knows, had Korach and his group agreed to seriously dialogue with Moses, Moses might have calmed them down. —

Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 June 2021 Korach’s cohorts also refused to dialogue with Moses (16:12). —

Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 June 2021 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English dialoge, from Anglo-French dialogue, from Latin dialogus, from Greek dialogos, from dialegesthai to converse, from dia- + legein to speak — more at legend

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of dialogue was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century