From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisharguear‧gue /ˈɑːɡjuː $ ˈɑːr-/ ●●● S2 W1 verb 1 DISAGREE[intransitive]ARGUE to disagree with someone in words, often in an angry way We could hear the neighbours arguing.argue with Gallacher continued to argue with the referee throughout the game.argue about They were arguing about how to spend the money.argue over The children were arguing over which TV programme to watch.GrammarReciprocal verbsArgue is a reciprocal verb. This type of verb is used when saying that two or more people do something that involves both or all of them: He and the waiter started arguing. You can also say: He and the waiter started arguing with each other. He started arguing with the waiter.Patterns with argue• You argue with someone: I wish you two would stop arguing with each other!• You argue about something or over something: Let’s not argue about/over small details.2 STATE[intransitive, transitive]SAY/STATE to state, giving clear reasons, that something is true, should be done etcargue that Croft argued that a date should be set for the withdrawal of troops. It could be argued that a dam might actually increase the risk of flooding.argue for/against (doing) something Baker argued against cutting the military budget. She argued the case for changing the law. The researchers put forward a well-argued case for banning the drug. They argued the point (=discussed it) for hours without reaching a conclusion.3 → argue somebody into/out of doing something4 SHOW CLEARLY[transitive] formalSHOW/BE A SIGN OF to show that something clearly exists or is true The statement argues a change of attitude by the management.5 → argue the tossTHESAURUSargue to speak angrily to someone because you disagree with them about somethingThose two are always arguing.We rarely argue with each other.have an argument to argue with someone for a period of time about a particular thingShe had a long argument with the man who was selling the tickets.have a row /raʊ/ British English, have a fight especially American English to have an argument with someone, especially with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or a member of your familyShe was upset because she’d had a fight with her boyfriend.The couple at the next table were having a row. quarrel especially British English to argue with someone, especially for a long time and about many different thingsThe children quarrel all the time.squabble /ˈskwɒbəl $ ˈskwɑː-/ to argue about unimportant thingsThe kids were squabbling over what to watch on TV.fall out with somebody British English to have a big argument with someone that results in you stopping having a friendly relationship with themI’ve fallen out with my best friend.be at each other’s throats if two people are at each other’s throats, they are always arguing in a very angry wayHis parents are constantly at each other’s throats. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
argue• a well-argued case• We could hear the neighbors arguing.• Jim and Beth seem to spend all their time arguing.• Besides all this, we argue a lot.• The two men at the bar were arguing about politics.• He argued for changes to the tax system so that it assisted people who undertook training.• Gunther Zuntz, on the other hand, has argued for the exclusively Pythagorean identity of the tablets.• My kids spend more time arguing over the rules than they do playing the game.• Senator Harvey argued strongly against taking any form of military action.• During oral arguments before the high court, attorneys for each state will argue that it alone should control the island.• The other approach has been to argue that rats have difficulty with passive avoidance because they can not remember recent events.• She argued that taxes must be increased to pay for public services.• Walter argues that the Convention guarantees compensation whenever a citizen is deprived of property.• Film makers themselves would no doubt argue that their films do not influence people's behaviour.• Rolt argues that we must look beyond the present system altogether.• And no one argued when he said he had become an embarrassment.• Don't argue with me, John. Just do what I tell you.argue over• The kids were arguing over which TV program to watch.argued the point• Supervisor Roland argued the point and finally agreed to send it back.Origin argue (1300-1400) Old French arguer, from Latin arguere “to make clear” 