🗣️ To debate 😠 To quarrel 💡 To suggest

to argue

607 1.1

To speak angrily with someone because you disagree

verb
/ˈɑːrɡjuː/

: discutir

Every time we meet for dinner, my parents argue over where to go for vacation.
argue heatedly
argue back
argue and yell

He would argue with Trump, he would argue with Ivanka and all of that.

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Examples

It's common for siblings to argue about who gets to use the TV first.
His colleagues were arguing about the difference between a bomb and a missile.

Academic text (2015)
John found that he sometimes had to argue with his boss for his pay.

Academic text (1992)
But these two guys, they, they argue about females all the time.
Grandpa, will you promise not to argue politics with Father?

Here (2024)
You have to listen to the words carefully to know what they are arguing about.

Academic text (2015)
Vincent and Laura argued that evening, and they argued the next morning, too.

Fiction book (1991)
The tall, dark man began to argue back, slowly at first, then with increasing fervor.

Fiction book (1991)
Out front, the couple had stopped arguing and were making up over a bottle of Ripple.

Fiction book (1990)
Holland is clearly upset by this, but knows he can't argue with a letter from the commissioner.

Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to debate

vsto argue

474 2.8

To discuss and argue about a topic in a formal way

is an angry personal exchange rather than a formal discussion

to clash

vsto argue

46 3.1

To disagree strongly with another person or group

is mainly a spoken angry disagreement rather than broad conflict

to argue over

vsto argue

36 2.9

To talk with someone because you disagree about something

is similar but implies more angry emotion rather than neutral dispute

to quarrel

vsto argue

35 2.6

To argue angrily with someone about small things

is a general angry disagreement not necessarily about trivial things

to have words

vsto argue

Informal

11 6.9

Talk angrily to someone because of a disagreement

is the same angry exchange but not always serious in tone

to spar

vsto argue

5 7.1

To argue in a friendly, quick way without serious anger

is typically angrier and less playful in tone

to cross swords

vsto argue

Informal

5 6.8

Argue strongly with someone, often in public

is similar but more general, not limited to verbal combat

to joust

vsto argue

3 7.5

To argue directly with someone in public or in a debate

is an everyday angry disagreement rather than a formal contest

to have a quarrel

vsto argue

2 2.8

Argue with someone and feel angry or upset afterward

is the act of an angry exchange without implying lasting estrangement

to remonstrate

vsto argue

Formal

1 8.5

To speak strongly to show you disagree

is an angry exchange focused on disagreement rather than formal protest

to altercate

vsto argue

Formal

9.9

To argue angrily, often for a long time or in public

is angry but usually less formal and often shorter

to argufy

vsto argue

Archaic

9.9

To disagree angrily about small, unimportant things

is an angry disagreement that can concern important issues too

Antonyms

to agree

∞ 1.0

Have the same opinion or say yes

to reconcile

38 5.1

To become friendly again after a disagreement

Phrasal Verbs

to argue over

36 2.9

To talk with someone because you disagree about something

How Angry

to fight

∞ 1.0

quarrel

61 2.0

to argue

607 1.1

to disagree

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

argue infinitive

argued past

argued past participle

arguing present participle

argues third person singular

Etymology

Argue comes from the old root arguere, which meant 'show' or 'make clear', and it is the same root as argument. A helpful way to remember the 'quarrel' sense is to think that people argue to 'show' they are right, so arguing became a fight with words.