# arguing

/ˈɑɹɡjuɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈɑːɡjuːɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arguing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. disagreeing with someone

noun · CEFR B1

the act of having a disagreement or a fight with words.

For teachers: the act of engaging in a verbal dispute or disagreement. Uncountable when referring to the general activity.

- The constant arguing between the neighbors made it hard to sleep.
- The constant arguing over minor administrative details eventually derailed the entire project, leading to a complete breakdown in communication between the departments.

### 2. giving reasons for an idea

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the act of giving reasons to show that something is true or right.

For teachers: the process of presenting reasons or evidence to support a specific viewpoint or proposition.

- His arguing for a shorter work week was based on new research.
- Her persistent arguing for structural reform within the organization was finally vindicated when the annual productivity report was published.

### 3. current action of disagreeing

verb · CEFR A2

the -ing form of the verb 'argue', used to show the action is happening now.

For teachers: the present participle of 'argue', used in continuous tenses to denote an ongoing dispute or the presentation of a case.

- They are arguing about which movie to watch tonight.
- While the lawyers were arguing the finer points of the contract, the clients were already looking for a way to settle out of court.

## Examples

- The constant arguing between the neighbors kept everyone awake.
- After hours of arguing about the budget, the committee finally decided to take a break and resume tomorrow.
- While some level of arguing is inevitable in any healthy relationship, persistent and circular conflict without resolution can lead to significant emotional exhaustion for both parties.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.