argue

argue — verb

1. to express anger, frustration, or strong disagreement to another person, usually

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to express anger, frustration, or strong disagreement to another person, usually by speaking loudly or in a hostile way; the focus is on the emotional clash rather than on reasoning.

Example

Theo and his sister argued for an hour about who would walk the dog.

argue with/about pattern in a domestic quarrel

Please stop arguing with your brother at the dinner table.

argue with + person, imperative

Common collocations
  • argue bitterly
  • argue constantly
  • argue loudly
  • stop arguing
  • argue with each other
Synonyms
  • quarrel

    similar but slightly more old-fashioned; emphasises an ongoing bad feeling between people

  • bicker

    informal; suggests petty, repeated arguing about small things

  • fight

    broader and more emotional; can refer to arguing, but also to physical conflict

  • row

    British informal noun-and-verb; a noisy argument between people who know each other

Antonyms
  • agree

    the opposite reaction: accepting the other person's view

  • make up

    describes ending an argument and becoming friendly again

Grammar Patterns

argue with someone

argue about/over something

argue with someone about/over something

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person; the verb is intransitive in this sense and often pairs with 'with' (the other person) and 'about' or 'over' (the topic). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense carries an angry, emotional tone, while sense 2 simply means giving reasons.

Common Mistakes

They argued each other yesterday.
They argued with each other yesterday.
in this sense, the other person is introduced by 'with', not as a direct object.
She argued me that I was wrong.
She argued with me that I was wrong.
you cannot put the person right after 'argue'; use 'with'.

2. to state your opinion or belief and explain the reasons behind it, especially wh

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to state your opinion or belief and explain the reasons behind it, especially when you want listeners or readers to accept your view as correct.

Example

Dr. Yusuf argues that schools should start later in the morning.

argue + that-clause stating a claim

The lawyer argued her client's case clearly in front of the jury.

transitive: argue + a case/point

Common collocations
  • argue convincingly
  • argue persuasively
  • argue strongly
  • argue that
Synonyms
  • claim

    to state something as true, often without strong evidence

  • maintain

    to keep stating a view firmly even when others disagree

  • contend

    more formal; common in writing and debate

  • assert

    to state something forcefully as a fact, with confidence

Antonyms
  • concede

    to admit that the other side may be correct

  • deny

    to state that something is not true

Grammar Patterns

argue that + clause

argue something

argue + direct speech

Usage Note

Only sense that takes a that-clause or direct speech as a complement. Common in academic, legal, and journalistic writing. Distinguish from sense 1: there is no anger here, only reasoned support for a position.

Common Mistakes

He argued about that schools should start later.
He argued that schools should start later.
drop 'about' before a that-clause.
She argued to me that the plan was risky.
She argued that the plan was risky.
the listener is not added with 'to' in this pattern; just use the that-clause.

3. to publicly support or oppose a plan, decision, or idea by listing reasons why i

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to publicly support or oppose a plan, decision, or idea by listing reasons why it is a good or bad choice, usually in a meeting, article, or debate.

Example

Several parents argued for a longer summer break at the school meeting.

argue for + the proposal you support

The mayor argued against building a new highway through the forest.

argue against + the proposal you oppose

Common collocations
  • argue strongly for
  • argue passionately against
  • argue in favour of
  • argue the case for
Synonyms
  • advocate

    more formal; means to publicly recommend a policy or cause

  • campaign for

    to work over time, often publicly, to support a cause

  • oppose

    matches 'argue against'; to take a stand against something

  • push for

    informal; to keep pressing for a particular outcome

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

argue for something

argue against something

argue in favour of something

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person, group, or piece of writing taking a public stance. The preposition signals which side: 'for' / 'in favour of' = support; 'against' = oppose. Distinguish from sense 2, which states a general claim; this sense is specifically about backing or opposing a concrete proposal.

Common Mistakes

She argued to the new policy.
She argued for the new policy.
use 'for', not 'to', when supporting a proposal.
They argued against to build a new road.
They argued against building a new road.
after 'against', use an -ing form, not a to-infinitive.

4. (of a fact, behaviour, or piece of evidence) to act as a sign that suggests some

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

(of a fact, behaviour, or piece of evidence) to act as a sign that suggests something is the case, even though the subject is not a person making a deliberate point.

Example

The clean kitchen and tidy desk argue a careful, organised tenant.

inanimate subject + argue + noun phrase

Her calm reply under pressure argues real confidence in her work.

Common collocations
  • argue a case
  • argue strong evidence of
  • the facts argue
  • the data argue
Synonyms
  • indicate

    neutral and very common; works in everyday and formal writing

  • suggest

    softer; the evidence hints at, but does not prove, a conclusion

  • point to

    informal equivalent; the evidence guides you toward a conclusion

  • demonstrate

    stronger; the evidence shows something clearly

Antonyms
  • contradict

    the evidence works against the conclusion instead of supporting it

Grammar Patterns

something argues something

something argues that + clause

something argues for/against something

Usage Note

Formal and mostly written. The subject is not a speaker but a thing that acts as evidence (a fact, behaviour, sign, result). Distinguish from sense 2: there, a person argues; here, a piece of evidence does the 'arguing' on its own.

Common Mistakes

My friend argues a careful person.
My friend's tidy room argues a careful person.
in this sense, the subject must be evidence or a sign, not the person themselves.
The data argues to a serious problem.
The data argues a serious problem.' / 'The data points to a serious problem.
drop 'to' after 'argue' in this pattern, or switch to 'point to'.
Phrasal verbs

argue someone into doing something

phrasal verb

to persuade a person to do something by giving them reasons until they finally agree.

Noa argued his father into letting him borrow the car for the weekend.

The coach argued her into joining the swimming team after school.

argue someone out of doing something

phrasal verb

to persuade a person not to do something by explaining the reasons against it.

Quinn argued her brother out of dropping his classes in the middle of the term.

I tried to argue my friend out of buying that broken old motorbike.

argue into doing

phrasal verb

To persuade someone to do something by giving reasons.

Mia argued her friend into joining the dance club.

Did you argue your brother into cleaning the garage?

argue out of doing

phrasal verb

To persuade someone not to do something by giving reasons.

Sara argued her colleague out of quitting his job.

Can you argue him out of buying that expensive car?

argue with

phrasal verb

To disagree with someone by speaking angrily or giving reasons.

Diego argued with his sister about the TV show.

Why do you always argue with the teacher in class?

Idioms

argue the toss

idiom

to keep on disagreeing about a small decision that has already been made and cannot easily be changed.

The referee blew the whistle, but the captain still tried to argue the toss for ten minutes.

Don't argue the toss with your grandmother about who washes up — just do it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All five verbs can introduce a position the speaker wants others to accept, but they differ in how strong the support is and how formal the register feels. 'Claim' simply states something as true and often hints that the speaker has not yet proved it, as in 'She claims the train was late.' 'Argue' goes further: the speaker offers reasons or evidence and tries to convince others, as in 'She argues that the train system needs more funding.' 'Maintain' suggests the speaker keeps holding a view even when others push back ('He maintains he saw the lights flash twice'). 'Contend' is more formal and common in academic or legal writing. 'Assert' is forceful and confident, but rarely shows the reasoning behind the statement; you assert that something is so, but you argue why.

argue ↗claim ↗maintain ↗contend ↗assert ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • argue the case for
  • argue the point
  • argue both sides
  • argue back and forth
  • argue from experience

Prepositions

  • with (a person)
  • about / over (a topic)
  • for / in favour of (a proposal)
  • against (a proposal)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

English borrowed 'argue' in the 1300s from Old French 'arguer' (to assert, accuse, blame), which traced back to Latin 'arguere' meaning 'to make clear, prove, accuse'. The Latin root carried the idea of making something visible through reasoning, which is why modern English keeps two clusters of meaning side by side: the calm 'give reasons / show evidence' senses (closer to the original Latin) and the noisier 'quarrel' sense, which grew later from people disputing each other's reasons in heated speech.