debating
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Debate, discuss, argue, dispute, and deliberate all involve talking about a topic, but they differ in formality and tone. Debate implies a structured exchange with opposing sides, often in official settings like parliament or a courtroom. Discuss is the most neutral term — it can be formal or casual, and does not require disagreement. Argue often carries emotional weight, suggesting people are upset or angry about the subject. Dispute focuses on strong disagreement, usually about facts or claims ('they disputed the election results'). Deliberate emphasizes slow, careful group consideration, often in decision-making bodies like a jury or board. For example, a team might discuss a deadline calmly, debate the best approach in a meeting, and argue if someone misses the target.
Common collocations
Etymology
Debating comes from the Latin word battuere meaning 'to beat'. In Old French this became debatre, combining de- ('down, apart') with batre ('to beat'), literally meaning 'to fight or contend'. The word entered English in the 1200s and originally referred to physical fighting. By the 1300s it had shifted to mean arguing or discussing with words instead of weapons.
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3