ARGUE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does argue mean? 

• ARGUE (verb)
  The verb ARGUE has 3 senses:

1. present reasons and arguments

2. have an argument about something

3. give evidence of

  Familiarity information: ARGUE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ARGUE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they argue    ... he / she / it argues   
Past simple: argued   
Past participle: argued   
-ing form: arguing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Present reasons and arguments

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

argue; reason

Hypernyms (to "argue" is one way to...):

lay out; present; represent (bring forward and present to the mind)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "argue"):

re-argue (argue again)

expostulate (reason with (somebody) for the purpose of dissuasion)

defend; fend for; support (argue or speak in defense of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue argue
Sam wants to argue with Sue

Derivation:

arguable (capable of being supported by argument)

arguer (someone who engages in debate)

argument (a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal)

argumentation (a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning)

argumentation (a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have an argument about something

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

argue; contend; debate; fence

Hypernyms (to "argue" is one way to...):

converse; discourse (carry on a conversation)

"Argue" entails doing...:

differ; disagree; dissent; take issue (be of different opinions)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "argue"):

stickle (dispute or argue stubbornly (especially minor points))

spar (fight verbally)

bicker; brabble; niggle; pettifog; quibble; squabble (argue over petty things)

altercate; argufy; dispute; quarrel; scrap (have a disagreement over something)

oppose (be against; express opposition to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue argue
Sam wants to argue with Sue

Derivation:

arguer (someone who engages in debate)

argument (a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement)

argumentative (given to or characterized by argument)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give evidence of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

argue; indicate

Context example:

The results indicate the need for more work

Hypernyms (to "argue" is one way to...):

lay out; present; represent (bring forward and present to the mind)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

argument (a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true)

argumentation (a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning)

argumentation (a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal)

 Context examples 

"But music, you know, is a matter of training," Ruth argued; "and opera is even more a matter of training. May it not be—"

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

We sat in the Strasburg salle-à-manger arguing the question for half an hour, but the same night we had resumed our journey and were well on our way to Geneva.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“This is the most important find on extinct vertebrates of the last ten years,” Kellner argued.

(Brazil and China scientists unearth pterosaur eggs with preserved embryos, Agência Brasil)

The UC Berkeley researchers have argued that the unmet sleep needs of the elderly elevate their risk of memory loss and a wide range of mental and physical disorders.

(Deep Sleep May Act as Fountain of Youth in Old Age, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The study argues that developing countries are missing out on a crucial food source, because most of their fish catch is sold internationally.

(Fairer fish trade could fix nutrient deficiencies in coastal countries, SciDev.Net)

Dr Hunt has long acknowledged that measuring humans' exposure to BPAs is difficult - but argues that that is all the more reason to air on the side of caution.

(Humans exposed to far more hormone-disrupting chemicals than thought, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

"That's the very point," she argued warmly.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Still, your mind works true, and argues not a particulari ad universale.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate man.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Holmes’s cold and inexorable manner showed the secretary that it was useless to argue with him.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)