engage in debates

USAGE SUMMARY

"engage in debates" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe two or more people discussing contrasting ideas or viewpoints. For example: "The students were encouraged to engage in debates about current events in order to get a better understanding of the issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

PROGRAMMERS often engage in debates over pernickety details.

The Economist

And she would also encourage users to continue to engage in debates on social media.

The New York Times

Painter calls on the public to engage in debates about the future of policing.

The Guardian

They then engage in debates about controversial issues in the news and/or curriculum and conclude by writing evaluations.

The New York Times

It's a challenge because it requires me to broaden my scientific horizons and engage in debates outside my specialist field.

Independent

Police forces should be willing to publish this information on websites and engage in debates around its usage".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

"A local county official cannot engage in debate with Norman Schwarzkopf.

The New York Times

The White House still seems reluctant to engage in debate about the pipeline's merits.

The New Yorker

But I hope they will embrace those issues and engage in debate".

The Guardian

In a democracy, he asked, shouldn't judges engage in debate over their decisions?

The New York Times

It is not, indeed, prepared to engage in debate at any price.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "engage in debates", ensure the context clearly indicates that the discussions involve contrasting viewpoints or arguments, not just general conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "engage in debates" when the situation involves informal chats or friendly discussions. Reserve it for scenarios where there's a structured exchange of opposing views.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "engage in debates" is a verb phrase. It describes the action of participating in formal discussions involving opposing arguments. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

13%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "engage in debates" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that describes active participation in discussions where different viewpoints are presented and argued. As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media, and serves the communicative purpose of describing active involvement in discussions with opposing views. While alternatives such as "participate in discussions" or "take part in discussions" exist, "engage in debates" specifically emphasizes the argumentative nature of the discussions. Remember to use it in contexts where contrasting views are central to the discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

participate in discussions

Focuses on the broader activity of discussion rather than specifically debates.

take part in discussions

Similar to participate, but emphasizes involvement or contribution.

enter into discussions

Highlights the act of initiating or joining a discussion.

get involved in discussions

Emphasizes active participation and engagement.

engage in dialogues

Replaces "debates" with "dialogues", implying a more collaborative exchange.

participate in arguments

Replaces "debates" with "arguments", emphasizing disagreement or contention.

partake in arguments

Similar to 'participate in arguments' but sounds slightly more formal.

enter into disputes

Emphasizes the disagreement aspect, focusing on formal disputes.

get caught up in squabbles

Implies involvement in petty or insignificant arguments.

get into conflicts

Suggests a more serious level of disagreement or opposition.

FAQs

What does "engage in debates" mean?

The phrase "engage in debates" means to participate actively in discussions where different viewpoints are presented and argued.

How can I use "engage in debates" in a sentence?

You can use "engage in debates" to describe someone's participation in structured discussions, such as "The students were encouraged to "engage in debates" about political issues".

What are some alternatives to "engage in debates"?

Alternatives to "engage in debates" include "participate in discussions", "take part in discussions", or "enter into discussions", depending on the context.

Is "engage in debate" or "engage in debates" more correct?

"Engage in debates" is generally more correct when referring to multiple instances or a series of discussions. "Engage in debate" is appropriate when discussing a single, specific debate.