What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
discuss
Example
Let's discuss the movie we watched last night. [discuss: verb]
Example
We had a lively discussion about politics over dinner. [discussion: noun]
debate
Example
The candidates debated the issues during the election campaign. [debated: past tense]
Example
The debate team won first place in the national tournament. [debate: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Discuss is more commonly used than debate in everyday language. Discuss is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while debate is less common and usually associated with formal settings such as politics or academia.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between discuss and debate?
Debate is generally considered more formal than discuss. It is often used in structured settings such as debates, competitions, or formal discussions. Discuss, on the other hand, can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
