English Meaning & Definitions
A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
- “The presidential debate was broadcast live to millions of viewers.”
- “There has been much public debate about the new environmental policy.”
To argue about a subject, especially in a formal manner, or to consider different possibilities before making a decision.
- “The committee will debate the proposed changes to the bylaws tomorrow.”
- “I am still debating whether to accept the job offer in another city.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “debate”.
Derived from the Old French 'debatre', meaning 'to fight, contend, or beat down', which itself comes from the Latin 'de-' (down) and 'battuere' (to beat). Originally, it implied a physical struggle or a violent quarrel before evolving into the modern sense of a formal verbal argument.
Think of a 'de-bate' as 'de-beating' someone with your words instead of your fists.
Frequently Asked Questions About “debate”
1. What is the meaning of “debate” in English?
In English, debate (noun) is defined as: “A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.”.
2. How do you use “debate” in a sentence?
“The presidential debate was broadcast live to millions of viewers.”
3. What are English synonyms of “debate”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “debate”?
Derived from the Old French 'debatre', meaning 'to fight, contend, or beat down', which itself comes from the Latin 'de-' (down) and 'battuere' (to beat). Originally, it implied a physical struggle or a violent quarrel before evolving into the modern sense of a formal verbal argument.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.