agree

[ uh-gree ]

verb (used without object)

, a·greed, a·gree·ing.

1. to have the same views, emotions, etc.; harmonize in opinion or feeling (often followed by with ):

   I don't agree with you.

2. to give consent; assent (often followed by to ):

   He agreed to accompany the ambassador.

   Do you agree to the conditions?

   Antonyms: decline, refuse

3. to live in concord or without contention; get along together.
4. to come to one opinion or mind; come to an arrangement or understanding; arrive at a settlement:

   They have agreed on the terms of surrender.

5. to be consistent; harmonize (usually followed by with ):

   This story agrees with hers.

   Antonyms: disagree

6. to correspond; conform; resemble (usually followed by with ):

   The play does not agree with the book.

7. to be suitable; comply with a preference or an ability to digest (usually followed by with ):

   The food did not agree with me.

8. Grammar. to correspond in inflectional form, as in number, case, gender, or person; to show agreement. In The boy runs, boy is a singular noun and runs agrees with it in number.

verb (used with object)

, a·greed, a·gree·ing.

1. to concede; grant (usually followed by a noun clause):

   I agree that he is the ablest of us.

2. Chiefly British. to consent to or concur with:

   We agree the stipulations.

   I must agree your plans.

agree

/ əˈɡriː /

verb

1. often foll by with to be of the same opinion; concur
2. also tr; when intr, often foll by to; when tr, takes a clause as object or an infinitive to give assent; consent

   I'll agree to that

   she agreed to go home

3. also tr; when intr, foll by on or about; when tr, may take a clause as object to come to terms (about); arrive at a settlement (on)

   they agreed on the main points

   they agreed a price

4. foll by with to be similar or consistent; harmonize; correspond
5. foll by with to be agreeable or suitable (to one's health, temperament, etc)
6. tr; takes a clause as object to concede or grant; admit

   they agreed that the price they were asking was too high

7. tr to make consistent with

   to agree the balance sheet with the records by making adjustments, writing off, etc

8. grammar to undergo agreement

Other Words From

• a·greeing·ly adverb
• inter·a·gree verb (used with object) interagreed interagreeing
• prea·gree verb (used without object) preagreed preagreeing

Word History and Origins

Origin of agree¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English agre, agreen, from Anglo-French, Old French agre(e)r, from phrase a gre “at pleasure, at will” (from a “to, at,” from Latin ad ad- ( def ) ); gre “pleasure, will,” from Latin grātum ( gree ²( def ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of agree¹

C14: from Old French agreer, from the phrase a gre at will or pleasure

Synonym Study

Agree, consent, accede, assent, concur all suggest complying with the idea, sentiment, or action of someone. Agree, the general term, suggests compliance in response to any degree of persuasion or opposition: to agree to go; to agree to a meeting, to a wish, request, demand, ultimatum. Consent, applying to rather important matters, conveys an active and positive idea; it implies making a definite decision to comply with someone's expressed wish: to consent to become engaged. Accede, a more formal word, also applies to important matters and implies a degree of yielding to conditions: to accede to terms. Assent conveys a more passive idea; it suggests agreeing intellectually or verbally with someone's assertion, request, etc.: to assent to a speaker's theory, to a proposed arrangement. To concur is to show accord in matters of opinion, as of minds independently running along the same channels: to concur in a judgment about a painting. See correspond.

Example Sentences

Kamarck agreed that the time has come for a thorough review of the federal government.

From Los Angeles Times

She agrees with Clare about feeling punished for not being able to breastfeed.

From BBC

At midday on a Saturday, the court granted his appeal by a 5-4 vote and agreed to hold a hearing on Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

The three judges unanimously agreed that it would be illegal for the lender to pay any commission to the dealer without the informed consent of the buyer.

From BBC

Despite the fact that it is more than halfway through the 2024-25 financial year, no pay deal for teachers in Northern Ireland has yet been agreed.

From BBC

Related Words

• acknowledge
• admit
• allow
• comply
• concede
• concur
• grant
• recognize
• set
• settle
• sign