law and government: the formal discussion of a motion (see motionentry 1 sense 3a) before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure
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
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The debate highlights a fundamental divide in U.S. drug policy. Lev Facher, STAT, 11 Sep. 2022 The school has also long been a venue for political debates between local and statewide candidates and even hosted a mayoral primary debate this year. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2022 As the Bears prepare for their season opener Sunday at their current home, Soldier Field, the future of that century-old stadium and potential for a new stadium may hinge largely on an economic debate. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 The biggest debate in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll will come at the top. Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 The debate has intensified in Australia, where voters in 1999 rejected a constitutional amendment to abolish the monarchy. Mike Cherney, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 Despite an ongoing debate on how history should be taught in school, lessons about 9/11 continue to highlight the courageous acts of men and women at the World Trade Center and first responders. Sarah Rumpf, Fox News, 11 Sep. 2022 But the image of a fearless teen, with curly blonde hair and pink shirt, slapping a heavily armed soldier sparked interest and debate across the world. Nadeem Muaddi, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Lawmakers have since been called back to the Capitol, where debate on antiabortion legislation will resume next week.Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022
Verb
Historians and scholars endlessly debate the effectiveness of terror bombing as a military strategy. Bob Carden, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Because Sahelanthropus lived so close to the divergence between hominins and apes, scientists debate whether the fossils are from an individual who lived after that divergence, or perhaps one who lived just before the divergence. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Aug. 2022 The Question Men were leaders of government agencies and captains of industry who convened in March 1939 to debate what those questions should be. Karen Sandstrom, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 For the first time in a quarter century, the U.N. General Assembly met in emergency session to debate a resolution condemning the invasion. Richard Fontaine, WSJ, 11 Mar. 2022 In late November, a special meeting of the World Health Assembly convened to debate establishing a new international agreement for pandemic preparedness. Helen Branswell, STAT, 25 Dec. 2021 Perhaps, the time has come to debate how carbon budgets should be constructed using a mix of emission reduction and carbon removal. Nives Dolsak And Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2021 While scientists debate if the multiverse actually exists, Wiz Khalifa went out and created his own. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Aug. 2022 While economists can debate whether that label is correct, what matters most is voters’ perception about how things are going – and that’s not good. Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 28 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French debatre, from de- + batre to beat, from Latin battuere