# debate

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈbeɪt/ · frequency rank #2,288

## Definitions
1. To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena.
2. To fight.
3. To engage in combat for; to strive for.
4. To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide

## Etymology
From Middle English debaten, from Old French debatre (“to fight, contend, debate, also literally to beat down”), from Romanic desbattere, from Latin dis- (“apart, in different directions”) + battuō (“to beat, to fence”).

## Easily confused with
- **debt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debt)
- **debut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debut)
- **debts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debts)
- **debit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debit)
- **decade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-decade)
- **delete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-delete)
- **donate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-donate)
- **Debbie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debbie)
- **devote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-devote)
- **debuts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debuts)
- **denote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-denote)
- **debated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debated)
- **debuted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-debuted)
- **deviate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-deviate)
- **deflate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-deflate)
- **date** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/date-vs-debate)
- **death** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/death-vs-debate)
- **Deane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deane-vs-debate)
- **debacle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debacle-vs-debate)

## Common misspellings (8)
`dbeate`, `ddebate`, `deabte`, `debaet`, `debatte`, `debbate`, `debtae`, `edbate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/debate