discuss
dih-SKUHS
Discuss (verb) means to talk over a topic with someone, weighing different views. Example: “Let's discuss the budget before the meeting ends.”
verb
1
To talk over a topic with someone, weighing different views.
"Let's discuss the budget before the meeting ends."
"They discussed the plan for nearly an hour."
"We should discuss where to go on holiday before booking anything."
2
To share or reveal information about something.
"The report discusses the causes of the delay in detail."
"The article discusses how bees find flowers and why they are important."
"In chapter two, the author discusses the history of the village school."
How to use discuss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo talk about something with someone, usually to understand it better or decide something.
Common mistake
"Discuss" already means "talk about," so avoid the redundant phrase "discuss about" — just say "discuss the plan," not "discuss about the plan."
Common pairings
discuss the matter
discuss options
discuss further
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- discusses
- Past tense
- discussed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Let's _____ the budget before the meeting ends.
Etymology
From Latin discutere, "to shake apart or examine," built from dis- ("apart") and quatere ("to shake") — the idea of shaking an issue apart to look at every side of it.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “discuss” mean?
The word “discuss” means to talk over a topic with someone, weighing different views. In plain terms, to talk about something with someone, usually to understand it better or decide something.
How do you pronounce “discuss”?
“Discuss” is pronounced dih-SKUHS (/dɪˈskʌs/ in IPA).
How do you use “discuss” in a sentence?
Here is “discuss” used in a sentence: “Let's discuss the budget before the meeting ends.”
What is another word for “discuss”?
Words with a similar meaning to “discuss” include bechat, confer, bespeak, betalk, chat and moot.
What part of speech is “discuss”?
“Discuss” is a verb.
Where does the word “discuss” come from?
The word “discuss” comes from Latin. From Latin discutere, "to shake apart or examine," built from dis- ("apart") and quatere ("to shake") — the idea of shaking an issue apart to look at every side of it.
Is “discuss” a common word?
“Discuss” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “discuss” have?
“Discuss” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to talk over a topic with someone, weighing different views.
What is the difference between discuss and argue?
Both involve talking about a topic, but the tone differs. To discuss is to talk something over calmly, weighing different views to understand or decide. To argue is to disagree, often heatedly, with each side pushing its own case. A discussion seeks understanding, while an argument seeks to win or defend a position.
What is the difference between discuss and debate?
Discussing means talking a topic over together, exchanging views fairly openly to explore it. Debating is more structured and competitive, with opposing sides formally arguing for and against a position. A discussion can be relaxed and open-ended, whereas a debate usually has clear sides and aims to determine a winner.
What is an example of discuss?
A team meeting to weigh the pros and cons of a new plan is discussing it. So are friends talking over where to go on holiday, or a class exploring a book's themes together. In each case, people share and consider different views on a topic rather than simply stating facts.
Does discuss have to involve more than one person?
Usually, yes. To discuss is to talk a topic over with someone, so it normally needs at least two people exchanging views. However, a piece of writing can also "discuss" a subject — an essay or report discusses a topic when it examines it in detail, even without a live conversation.
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