Disagree

/ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To hold a different opinion or belief; to be in opposition to something.

/ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To have a different opinion; to not concur.

I disagree with the new policy.

💡 Simply: It's like when you and your friend don't see eye-to-eye on something. Maybe you want ice cream and they want cake! You disagree.

👶 For kids: When you think something different than someone else, you disagree.

More Examples

2

They disagreed about the best way to solve the problem.

3

The students disagreed on the interpretation of the poem.

How It's Used

General Conversation

"I disagree with your assessment of the situation."

Formal Debate

"The panelists often disagreed on the proposed solutions."

2

To be incompatible or not in accordance with something; to be at variance.

/ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/

verbneutralmedium
General

To be different or incompatible.

The colors on the website disagreed with the branding guidelines.

💡 Simply: Imagine two puzzle pieces that just don't match. When things like ideas or personalities don't fit together, they disagree.

👶 For kids: When things don't go together, like a square peg in a round hole, they disagree.

More Examples

2

His findings disagreed with previous research.

3

The two accounts of the event disagreed on several key details.

How It's Used

Science

"The results of the two experiments disagree significantly."

Personal Relationships

"Their personalities often disagreed, leading to conflict."

Tip:Think of two puzzle pieces that do not fit together, and how they disagree in their shape.

Idioms & expressions

disagree to disagree

To accept that you have different opinions and to end a discussion without resolving the disagreement.

"After hours of debate, they finally decided to agree to disagree."

From Middle English *disagreen*, from Old French *desagreer* ("to displease, disagree"), from *des-* + *agreer* ("to please").

The word 'disagree' has been used since the 15th century and developed alongside the broader concepts of agreement and conflict within discussions and societal values.

Memory tip

Imagine two signs, one saying "agree" and the other saying "disagree." The word suggests having a sign saying the opposite of what is being presented.

disagreeedisagre

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written