2 debate
Function:
verbInflected forms:
debates; debat·ed; debat·ingMeaning:
1 [+ obj] : to discuss (something) with people whose opinions are different from your own ▪ Scholars have been debating the meaning of the text for years. ▪ Whether or not the tax cuts benefit the lower classes is still hotly debated among economists. ▪ The energy bill is currently being debated in Congress.
2 : to compete against (someone) in a debate : to argue against another person's opinions as part of an organized event [+ obj] ▪ The President debated his challenger in front of a live audience on Tuesday. [no obj] ▪ The students debated for an hour. ▪ She was on the debating team [=a group that competes against other teams in formal debates] at school.
3 [+ obj] : to think about (something) in order to decide what to do ▪ I debated [=considered] moving to the city, but eventually decided against it. —often + whether, what, etc. ▪ I am still debating (with myself) whether to attend the wedding or not. ▪ She is still debating what to do.
2 : to compete against (someone) in a debate : to argue against another person's opinions as part of an organized event [+ obj] ▪ The President debated his challenger in front of a live audience on Tuesday. [no obj] ▪ The students debated for an hour. ▪ She was on the debating team [=a group that competes against other teams in formal debates] at school.
3 [+ obj] : to think about (something) in order to decide what to do ▪ I debated [=considered] moving to the city, but eventually decided against it. —often + whether, what, etc. ▪ I am still debating (with myself) whether to attend the wedding or not. ▪ She is still debating what to do.
—de·bat·er noun plural de·bat·ers [count] ▪ He is one of the best debaters in on our school's team.