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dialogue

American  
[dahy-uh-lawg, -log] / ˈdaɪ əˌlɔg, -ˌlɒg /
Or dialog

noun

  1. conversation between two or more persons.

  2. the conversation between characters in a novel, drama, etc.

  3. an exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular issue, especially a political or religious issue, with a view to reaching an amicable agreement or settlement.

  4. a literary work in the form of a conversation.

    a dialogue of Plato.


verb (used without object)

dialogued, dialoguing
  1. to carry on a dialogue; converse.

  2. to discuss areas of disagreement frankly in order to resolve them.

verb (used with object)

dialogued, dialoguing
  1. to put into the form of a dialogue.

dialogue British  
/ ˈdaɪəˌlɒɡ, ˌdaɪəˈlɒdʒɪk /

noun

  1. conversation between two or more people

  2. an exchange of opinions on a particular subject; discussion

  3. the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction

  4. a particular passage of conversation in a literary or dramatic work

  5. a literary composition in the form of a dialogue

  6. a political discussion between representatives of two nations or groups

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to put into the form of a dialogue

  2. (intr) to take part in a dialogue; converse

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • dialogic adjective
  • dialoguer noun
  • self-dialog noun
  • self-dialogue noun
  • underdialogue noun

Etymology

Origin of dialogue

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French dïalogue, Latin dialogus, from Greek diálogos; equivalent to dia- + -logue

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He urged Lebanon and Israel to use the Unifil mechanism for dialogue, saying "the bottom line is that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon needs to be respected".

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

For his 1970 novel, “Bomber,” a fictionalization of a Royal Air Force raid over Germany in 1943, he spoke to survivors and listened to wartime tape recordings to get the dialogue right.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Ties between the two states date back to the Middle Ages and they share interests such as promoting interfaith dialogue and environmental protection.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The result: Pedretti in Alloway’s instant cult classic is a laugh-out-loud-funny unending well of charm, packing humor into even her most routine dialogue.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

"I maintain, violence is not the answer to these problems of race and discrimination. We must foster dialogue between the black and white extremes."

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon