English Reference
verb

disagree

v.
US /dɪsəˈɡɹi/ UK /dˌɪsɐɡɹˈiː/ dis·agree UK spelling disagreed, disagreeing, disagrees

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    to be different when things should be the same, like two reports or sets of numbers.

    to fail to correspond or be consistent with another source of information.

    Simple

    The two witness accounts disagree on what time the accident happened.

    In context

    The results of the second study disagree with the initial findings, suggesting that the original data may have been flawed.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make you feel slightly sick after you eat or drink something.

    to cause physical discomfort or illness, specifically regarding digestion.

    Simple

    I love spicy food, but unfortunately, it often disagrees with me.

    In context

    The rich cream sauce seemed to disagree with several guests, who reported feeling unwell shortly after the dinner concluded.

    Usage

    Always used with the preposition 'with'.

Usage strongly disagree


From Middle English disagre (“to refuse to assent to”), from Anglo-Norman disagreer, disagrer, desagreer (“to refuse assent”), from Old French desagreer, desagrëer (“to be disagreeable; to be unpleasant”) (modern French désagréer (“to displease”)); the English word is analysable as dis- + agree.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French desagreer
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated