WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•pute /dɪˈspyut/USA pronunciation
v., -put•ed, -put•ing, n.
v.
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to be in an argument or debate;
argue: [no object]The school board members spend their time disputing and getting nothing done.[~ + with + object]We were disputing with the committee on how to proceed. - to argue or debate about;
argue against;
call (something) in question: [~ + object]The accountant disputes the figures you gave her.[~ + that clause]The administration does not dispute that the cuts in personnel will hurt good service.
n.
- debate, controversy, or difference of opinion: [countable]The dispute concerns capital punishment.[uncountable]much dispute over how to inspect nuclear weapons-producing plants.
- a quarrel;
a fight:[countable]a loud dispute in the middle of the night.
dis•pute
(di spyo̅o̅t′),USA pronunciation v., -put•ed, -put•ing, n.
v.i.
v.t.
n.
dis•pute′less, adj.
dis•put′er, n.
v.i.
- to engage in argument or debate.
- to argue vehemently;
wrangle or quarrel.
v.t.
- to argue or debate about;
discuss. - to argue against;
call in question:to dispute a proposal. - to quarrel or fight about;
contest. - to strive against;
oppose:to dispute an advance of troops.
n.
- a debate, controversy, or difference of opinion.
- a wrangling argument;
quarrel.
- Latin disputāre to argue a point, equivalent. to dis- dis-1 + putāre to reckon, consider; see putative
- Anglo-French, Old French desputer)
- Middle English (1275–1325
dis•put′er, n.
- 2. bicker, squabble. 8. disputation, altercation, wrangle, bickering, squabble. See argument.