: a contention by words or arguments
Our polite chat about politics became a heated debate.
The case sparked a raging public debate on property rights.
: such as
a
: a regulated discussion of a proposition (see proposition entry 1 sense 1b) between two matched sides
the last presidential debate before the election
the debate's moderator
b
law and government
: the formal discussion of a motion (see motion entry 1 sense 3a) before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure
debated; debating
1
a
: to argue about
the subject was hotly debated
b
: to engage (an opponent) in debate
a governor debating her challenger
2
: to turn over in one's mind : to think about (something, such as different options) in order to decide
still debating what to do
1
: to participate in a debate
the six primary candidates who debated last night
2
a
: to contend in words
b
: to discuss a question by considering opposed arguments
debater
noun
Examples of debate in a Sentence
Noun
The candidates participated in several debates before the election was held.
The meaning of the text has been the subject of considerable debate among scholars for many years.
Verb
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.
The President debated his challenger in front of a live audience on Tuesday.
The students debated for an hour.
Recent Examples on the Web
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
But the college football season is again heading towards another debate that says a two- or potentially three-loss SEC team is better for the playoffs than a one-loss team from the ACC or Big 12.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Republicans have refused to entertained negotiations on health care policy, arguing the health care subsidies should be debated by Congress after the shutdown is over.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has earned a reputation as a hardliner on immigration, an image that helped propel her to power amid rising nationalist sentiment and debate over Japan’s identity amid demographic decline.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
But the college football season is again heading towards another debate that says a two- or potentially three-loss SEC team is better for the playoffs than a one-loss team from the ACC or Big 12.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Cleveland Browns drafted two rookie quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft, a move that was highly debated at the time and a storyline that hasn't gone away since.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Republicans have refused to entertained negotiations on health care policy, arguing the health care subsidies should be debated by Congress after the shutdown is over.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debate
Cite this Entry
“Debate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
debate
1 of 2 noun
de·bate
di-ˈbāt 
: a verbal argument: as
a
: the discussion of a motion before a legislature
b
: a regulated discussion of a problem between two matched sides
debate
2 of 2 verb
debated; debating
1
: to discuss or examine a question often publicly by presenting and considering arguments on both sides
2
: to take part in a debate
3
: to present or consider the reasons for and against : consider
debater
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share