argue

[ ahr-gyoo ]

verb (used without object)

, ar·gued, ar·gu·ing.

1. to present reasons for or against a thing:

   He argued in favor of capital punishment.

2. to contend in oral disagreement; dispute:

   The senator argued with the president about the new tax bill.

verb (used with object)

, ar·gued, ar·gu·ing.

1. to state the reasons for or against:

   The lawyers argued the case.

2. to maintain in reasoning:

   to argue that the news report must be wrong.

3. to persuade, drive, etc., by reasoning:

   to argue someone out of a plan.

4. to show; prove; imply; indicate:

   His clothes argue poverty.

argue

/ ˈɑːɡjuː /

verb

1. intr to quarrel; wrangle

   they were always arguing until I arrived

2. intr; often foll by for or against to present supporting or opposing reasons or cases in a dispute; reason
3. tr; may take a clause as object to try to prove by presenting reasons; maintain
4. tr; often passive to debate or discuss

   the case was fully argued before agreement was reached

5. tr to persuade

   he argued me into going

6. tr to give evidence of; suggest

   her looks argue despair

Derived Forms

• ˈarguer, noun

Other Words From

• argu·er noun
• counter·argue verb counterargued counterarguing
• over·argue verb overargued overarguing
• re·argue verb reargued rearguing
• well-argued adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of argue¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French arguer, from Latin argūtāre, argūtārī “to babble, chatter,” frequentative of arguere “to prove, assert, accuse” (in Medieval Latin: “to argue, reason”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of argue¹

C14: from Old French arguer to assert, charge with, from Latin arguere to make clear, accuse; related to Latin argūtus clear, argentum silver

Example Sentences

But critics argue these measures have proven ineffective.

From BBC

However, some argue megafunds would not invest so much in smaller projects while some claim the changes could bring risks for pension savers.

From BBC

It’s true that the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t kind to the American city, and no one would argue that big U.S. cities are currently case studies for government-solving problems.

From Slate

Given the experience of past secretaries, many were quick to argue that Hegseth lacked the necessary credentials.

From BBC

"They're a very pacifist society. They don't fight, they don't argue, so I wasn't really prepared for these big bullies in school. But I just got through it."

From BBC

Related Words

• appeal
• assert
• claim
• contend
• defend
• demonstrate
• explain
• indicate
• maintain
• plead
• present
• suggest
• testify