ENGLISH
REFERENCE

disputed

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪˈspjutəd// UK //dɪspjˈuːtɪd// dis·put·ed

v. to say that something is not true or not correct. You use this when you disagree with a fact or a claim.

v. to challenge the validity or accuracy of a statement, claim, or fact. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the contested information.


SIMPLE

The player disputed the referee's decision.

CONTEXTUAL

The company disputed the findings of the environmental report, claiming the data was collected using faulty equipment.

COMPLEX

Historians have long disputed the exact date of the battle, as contemporary accounts offer conflicting timelines that are difficult to reconcile with modern archaeological evidence.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. Often used in the passive voice ('the results were disputed').

Pitfall

They disputed about the results.They disputed the results.When used to mean 'challenge the truth of', the verb is transitive and does not take the preposition 'about'.

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