debate

UK: /dɪˈbeɪt/ US: /dɪˈbeɪt/ ,(di bāt′)

Inflections of 'debate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

debates

v 3rd person singular

debating

v pres p

debated

v past

debated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•bate /dɪˈbeɪt/   n., v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing. 
n. 

1. a discussion involving opposing viewpoints:
   [countable] a lively debate over the issue of raising taxes.
2. [countable] a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of an issue are argued for by opposing speakers.
3. deliberation;
   consideration:
   [uncountable] After some debate they made their decision.

v. 

4. [ ~ (+ about) + clause] to deliberate;
   consider:
   We debated (about) whether we should go or stay here.
5. [ ~ (+ about) + obj] to argue or discuss (a question), as in a group:
   We debated (about) the issue most of the night.
6. to have a formal debate (with): [no obj]:
   When we left, the teams were still debating.
   [ ~ + obj ]:
   I had to debate the best speaker in the district.

de•bat•er, n. [countable]
de•bat•ing, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•bate  (di bāt′), n., v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing. 
n. 

1. a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints:
   a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.
2. a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
3. deliberation;
   consideration.
4. [Archaic.] strife;
   contention.

v.i. 

5. to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly:
   When we left, the men were still debating.
6. to participate in a formal debate.
7. to deliberate;
   consider:
   I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.
8. [Obs.] to fight;
   quarrel.

v.t. 

9. to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly:
   They debated the matter of free will.
10. to dispute or disagree about:
    The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.
11. to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.):
    Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.
12. to deliberate upon;
    consider:
    He debated his decision in the matter.
13. [Archaic.] to contend for or over.

• Old French, derivative of debatre
• Latin battere, earlier battuere; (noun, nominal) Middle English debat
• Old French debatre, equivalent. to de- de- + batre to beat
• (verb, verbal) Middle English debaten 1250–1300

de•bat′er, n. 
de•bat′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. argument, controversy, disputation, contention.
• 5. dispute, contend. See argue. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

debate / dɪˈbeɪt/ noun

1. a formal discussion, as in a legislative body, in which opposing arguments are put forward
2. discussion or dispute
3. the formal presentation and opposition of a specific motion, followed by a vote

verb

1. to discuss (a motion), esp in a formal assembly
2. to deliberate upon (something): he debated with himself whether to go

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French debatre to discuss, argue, from Latin battuere

deˈbater noun