Debate Definition

dĭ-bāt
debated, debates, debating
verb
debated, debates, debating
To consider reasons for and against; deliberate on.
Webster's New World
To engage in argument by discussing opposing points.
American Heritage
To take part in a formal discussion or a contest in which opposing sides of a question are argued.
Webster's New World
To deliberate (with oneself or in one's own mind)
Webster's New World
To dispute about, esp. in a meeting or legislature.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
debates
Discussion or consideration of opposing reasons; argument about or deliberation on a question.
Webster's New World
Deliberation; consideration.
Passed the motion with little debate.
American Heritage
A formal contest of skill in reasoned argument, with two teams taking opposite sides of a specified question.
Webster's New World
The art or study of formal debate.
Webster's New World
Conflict; strife.
American Heritage
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Debate

Noun

Singular:
debate
Plural:
debates

Origin of Debate

  • From Old French debatre (“to fight, contend, debate, also literally to beat down”), from Romanic desbattere, from Latin dis- (“apart, in different directions”) + battuere (“to beat, to fence”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English debaten from Old French debatre de- de- battre to beat batter1

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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