to present reasons for or against a thing: He argued in favor of capital punishment.
2.
to contend in oral disagreement; dispute: The Senator argued with the President about the new tax bill.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to state the reasons for or against: The lawyers argued the case.
4.
to maintain in reasoning: to argue that the news report must be wrong.
5.
to persuade, drive, etc., by reasoning: to argue someone out of a plan.
6.
to show; prove; imply; indicate: His clothes argue poverty.
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < AF, OF arguer < L argūtāre, -ārī, freq. of arguere to prove, assert, accuse (ML: argue, reason), though L freq. form attested only in sense “babble, chatter”]
—Related forms
ar·gu·er, noun
—Synonyms 1, 2.Argue,debate,discuss imply using reasons or proofs to support or refute an assertion, proposition, or principle. Argue implies presenting one's reasons: The scientists argued for a safer testing procedure; it may also imply disputing in an angry or excited way: His parents argue all the time. To discuss is to present varied opinions and views: to discuss ways and means. To debate is to interchange formal (usually opposing) arguments, esp. on public questions: to debate a proposed amendment.
To put forth reasons for or against; debate: "It is time to stop arguing tax-rate reductions and to enact them"(Paul Craig Roberts).
To attempt to prove by reasoning; maintain or contend: The speaker argued that more immigrants should be admitted to the country.
To give evidence of; indicate: "Similarities cannot always be used to argue descent"(Isaac Asimov).
To persuade or influence (another), as by presenting reasons: argued the clerk into lowering the price.
v.
intr.
To put forth reasons for or against something: argued for dismissal of the case; argued against an immediate counterattack.
To engage in a quarrel; dispute.
[Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin argūtāre, to babble, chatter, frequentative of arguere, to make clear; see arg- in Indo-European roots.]
ar'gu·er n.
Synonyms: These verbs denote verbal exchange expressing conflict. To argue is to present reasons or facts in order to persuade someone of something: "I am not arguing with you—I am telling you" (James McNeill Whistler).
Quarrel stresses hostility: The children quarreled over whose turn it was to wash the dishes. Wrangle refers to loud, contentious argument: "audiences . . . who can be overheard wrangling about film facts in restaurants and coffee houses" (Sheila Benson).
Squabble suggests petty or trivial argument: "The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin . . . would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities" (Theodore Roosevelt).
Bicker connotes sharp, persistent, bad-tempered exchange: The senators bickered about the President's tax proposal for weeks. See Also Synonyms at discuss, indicate.
1303, from O.Fr. arguer, from L. argutare "to prattle" freq. of arguere "to make clear, demonstrate," from PIE *argu-yo-, from base *arg- "to shine, be white, bright, clear" (see argent). Colloquial argufy is first attested 1751. Argument "proof, evidence" is from 1382; sense of "debate" is from 1494. Argumentative "fond of arguing" is from 1667.
(withwith someone, about something) to quarrel with (a person) or discuss (something) with a person in a not very friendly way Example: I'm not going to argue; Will you children stop arguing with each other about whose toy that is!
Arabic:
يُجادِل، يَتَجادَل مَع
Chinese (Simplified):
争辩
Chinese (Traditional):
爭辯
Czech:
přít se, hádat se
Danish:
diskutere; argumentere; skændes
Dutch:
redetwisten
Estonian:
vaidlema
Finnish:
kiistellä
French:
se disputer (sur, *à propos de)
German:
(sich) streiten
Greek:
λογομαχώ
Hungarian:
vitatkozik
Icelandic:
deila, rífast
Indonesian:
bertengkar, membantah
Italian:
discutere; litigare
Japanese:
言い合う
Korean:
논쟁하다, 말다툼하다
Latvian:
strīdēties
Lithuanian:
ginčytis
Norwegian:
krangle, trette, diskutere
Polish:
kłócić, *spierać się
Portuguese (Brazil):
discutir, brigar
Portuguese (Portugal):
discutir
Romanian:
a se certa (pentru, *în legătură cu)
Russian:
спорить
Slovak:
hádať sa
Slovenian:
pričkati se
Spanish:
discutir
Swedish:
gräla, bråka
Turkish:
tartışmak, münakaşa etmek
argue2[ˈaːgjuː]verb
(withfor, ~against) to suggest reasons for or for not doing something Example: I argued for/against accepting the plan.
Arabic:
يُقَيِّم الحِجَّه
Chinese (Simplified):
辩论
Chinese (Traditional):
辯論
Czech:
argumentovat pro, *proti
Danish:
argumentere
Dutch:
pleiten
Estonian:
põhjendusi esitama
Finnish:
esittää perusteluja
French:
plaider (pour, contre)
German:
argumetieren, Gründe anführen
Greek:
επιχειρηματολογώ
Hungarian:
érvel (vmi mellett, vmi ellen), vitat vmit
Icelandic:
rökræða
Indonesian:
mempertimbangkan
Italian:
parlare (in favore, contro)*
Japanese:
主張する
Korean:
찬성론을 펴다
Latvian:
iestāties (par, pret)
Lithuanian:
būti už, *prieš
Norwegian:
argumentere for, *mot
Polish:
wysuwać argumenty (za, przeciw)
Portuguese (Brazil):
argumentar (a favor, contra)
Portuguese (Portugal):
argumentar
Romanian:
a pleda (pentru, *împotriva)
Russian:
аргументировать
Slovak:
argumentovať
Slovenian:
zavzemati se
Spanish:
argüir, argumentar
Swedish:
argumentera, anföra skäl
Turkish:
(lehinde, *aleyhinde) tartışmak
argue3[ˈaːgjuː]verb
(withinto, ~out of) to persuade (a person) (not) to do something Example: I'll try to argue him into going; He argued her out of buying the dress.
Arabic:
يُقْنِع
Chinese (Simplified):
说服
Chinese (Traditional):
說服
Czech:
přesvědčit, přemluvit; zrazovat
Danish:
drøfte; overtale
Dutch:
overreden
Estonian:
veenma
Finnish:
suostutella
French:
persuader (de, de ne pas)
German:
überreden
Greek:
πείθω
Hungarian:
rábeszél, lebeszél
Icelandic:
telja (á, *af)
Indonesian:
membujuk
Italian:
persuadere, convincere
Japanese:
説得する
Korean:
설득하여 …시키다
Latvian:
pārliecināt; pierunāt; atrunāt
Lithuanian:
įkalbinėti, atkalbinėti
Norwegian:
overtale (til)
Polish:
przekonywać
Portuguese (Brazil):
persuadir (a, a não)
Portuguese (Portugal):
persuadir
Romanian:
a convinge (să, *să nu)
Russian:
убеждать
Slovak:
presvedčiť, prehovoriť
Slovenian:
prepričati
Spanish:
persuadir de, *a(positivo); disuadir de (negativo)
Swedish:
övertala
Turkish:
ikna etmek
argue4[ˈaːgjuː]verb
to discuss, giving one's reasoning Example: She argued the point very cleverly.
Main Entry: ar·gue Function: verb Inflected Forms: ar·gued; ar·gu·ing intransitive verb 1: to give reasons for or
against a matter in dispute <arguing for an extension> 2: to present a case in court <will argue for the defense> transitive verb 1 a: to
give reasons for or against <argued the issue before the judge> b: to prove or try to prove by giving reasons or evidence <will argue invasion of privacy> 2: to present in court <lawyers in court filing briefs and arguing appeals —Rorie Sherman> —ar·gu·ableadjective
Ar"gent\, n. [F. argent, fr. L. argentum, silver; akin to Gr. 'a`rgyros silver, 'argo`s, 'argh`s, white, bright, Skr. rajata white, silver, raj to shine, Ir. arg white, milk, airgiod silver, money, and L. arguere to make clear. See Argue.]1. Silver, or money. [Archaic] 2. (Fig. & Poet.) Whiteness; anything that is white. The polished argent of her breast. --Tennyson. 3. (Her.) The white color in coats of arms, intended to represent silver, or, figuratively, purity, innocence, beauty, or gentleness; -- represented in engraving by a plain white surface. --Weale.
Ar"gue\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Argued; p. pr. & vb. n. Arguing.] [OE. arguen, F. arguer, fr. L. argutare, freq. of arguere to make clear; from the same root as E. argent.]1. To invent and offer reasons to support or overthrow a proposition, opinion, or measure; to use arguments; to reason. I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will. --Milton. 2. To contend in argument; to dispute; to reason; -- followed by with; as, you may argue with your friend without convincing him.
Ar"gue\, v. t. 1. To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning; as, the counsel argued the cause before a full court; the cause was well argued. 2. To prove or evince; too manifest or exhibit by inference, deduction, or reasoning. So many laws argue so many sins. --Milton. 3. To persuade by reasons; as, to argue a man into a different opinion. 4. To blame; to accuse; to charge with. [Obs.] Thoughts and expressions . . . which can be truly argued of obscenity, profaneness, or immorality. --Dryden. Syn: to reason; evince; discuss; debate; expostulate; remonstrate; controvert. Usage: To Argue, Dispute, Debate. These words, as here compared, suppose a contest between two parties in respect to some point at issue. To argue is to adduce arguments or reasons in support of one's cause or position. To dispute is to call in question or deny the statements or arguments of the opposing party. To debate is to strive for or against in a somewhat formal manner by arguments. Men of many words sometimes argue for the sake of talking; men of ready tongues frequently dispute for the sake of victory; men in public life often debate for the sake of opposing the ruling party, or from any other motive than the love of truth. --Crabb. Unskilled to argue, in dispute yet loud, Bold without caution, without honors proud. --Falconer. Betwixt the dearest friends to raise debate. --Dryden.
Ar"gue\, v. t. 1. To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning; as, the counsel argued the cause before a full court; the cause was well argued. 2. To prove or evince; too manifest or exhibit by inference, deduction, or reasoning. So many laws argue so many sins. --Milton. 3. To persuade by reasons; as, to argue a man into a different opinion. 4. To blame; to accuse; to charge with. [Obs.] Thoughts and expressions . . . which can be truly argued of obscenity, profaneness, or immorality. --Dryden. Syn: to reason; evince; discuss; debate; expostulate; remonstrate; controvert. Usage: To Argue, Dispute, Debate. These words, as here compared, suppose a contest between two parties in respect to some point at issue. To argue is to adduce arguments or reasons in support of one's cause or position. To dispute is to call in question or deny the statements or arguments of the opposing party. To debate is to strive for or against in a somewhat formal manner by arguments. Men of many words sometimes argue for the sake of talking; men of ready tongues frequently dispute for the sake of victory; men in public life often debate for the sake of opposing the ruling party, or from any other motive than the love of truth. --Crabb. Unskilled to argue, in dispute yet loud, Bold without caution, without honors proud. --Falconer. Betwixt the dearest friends to raise debate. --Dryden.
Ar*gute"\, a. [L. argutus, p. p. of arguere. See Argue.]1. Sharp; shrill. [Obs.] --Johnson. 2. Sagacious; acute; subtle; shrewd. The active preacher . . . the argue schoolman. --Milman.
De*bate"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] [OF. debatre, F. d['e]battre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter, v. t., and cf. Abate.]1. 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 ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine. --Prescott. 2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against. A wise council . . . that did debate this business. --Shak. Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. --Prov. xxv. 9. Syn: To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.
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Audio Help [ahr-gyoo] Pronunciation Key verb, -gued, -gu·ing. 
