dialogue

1 of 2

noun

di·​a·​logue ˈdī-ə-ˌlȯg 

-ˌläg

variants or less commonly dialog

1

: a written composition in which two or more characters are represented as conversing

2

a

: a conversation between two or more persons

also : a similar exchange between a person and something else (such as a computer)

b

: an exchange of ideas and opinions

organized a series of dialogues on human rights

c

: a discussion between representatives of parties to a conflict that is aimed at resolution

a constructive dialogue between loggers and environmentalists

3

: the conversational element of literary or dramatic composition

very little dialogue in this film

writes realistic dialogue

4

: a musical composition for two or more parts suggestive of a conversation

dialogue

2 of 2

verb

dialogued; dialoguing

transitive verb

: to express in dialogue

… and dialogued for him what he would say …

—Shakespeare

intransitive verb

: to take part in a dialogue

managers dialoguing with employees

Did you know?

Dialectic: Logic Through Conversation

Dialectic is a term used in philosophy, and the fact that it is closely connected to the ideas of Socrates and Plato is completely logical—even from an etymological point of view. Plato’s famous dialogues frequently presented Socrates playing a leading role, and dialogue comes from the Greek roots dia- (“through” or “across”) and -logue (“discourse” or “talk”). Dialect and dialectic come from dialecktos (“conversation” or “dialect”) and ultimately back to the Greek word dialegesthai, meaning “to converse.”

Conversation or dialogue was indeed at the heart of the “Socratic method,” through which Socrates would ask probing questions which cumulatively revealed his students’ unsupported assumptions and misconceptions. The goal, according to the definition in our Unabridged Dictionary, was to “elicit a clear and consistent expression of something supposed to be implicitly known by all rational beings.”

Other philosophers had specific uses of the term dialectic, including Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Kantianism, Hegelianism, and Marxism. Asking a series of questions was considered by Socrates a method of “giving birth” to the truth, and a related word, maieutic, defined as “relating to or resembling the Socratic method of eliciting new ideas from another,” comes from the Greek word meaning “of midwifery.”

Synonyms

Noun

• argument
• argumentation
• argy-bargy [chiefly British]
• back-and-forth
• colloquy
• confab
• confabulation
• conference
• consult
• consultation
• council
• counsel
• debate
• deliberation
• discussion
• give-and-take
• palaver
• parley
• talk

Examples of dialogue in a Sentence

Noun

He is an expert at writing dialogue.

There's very little dialogue in the film.

The best part of the book is the clever dialogue.

Students were asked to read dialogues from the play.

The two sides involved in the labor dispute are trying to establish a dialogue.

The two parties have been in constant dialogue with each other.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Directed by Richard Linklater, and co-written with Hawke and Delpy, Before Sunset crafts dialogue that feels organic and deeply personal throughout, always flowing seamlessly, always capturing the rhythm of a genuine conversation. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

These first few lines of dialogue are deeply unsubtle, perhaps characteristically. —James Factora, Them, 20 Dec. 2024

Verb

But instead of dialoguing with demonstrators, the Brazilian government has responded most often with arrests, tear gas, and rubber bullets. —Catherine Osborn, Foreign Affairs, 26 Oct. 2016

Some parts seemed easier to dialogue with than others. —Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English dialoge, from Anglo-French dialogue, from Latin dialogus, from Greek dialogos, from dialegesthai to converse, from dia- + legein to speak — more at legend

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

dialogue

noun

di·​a·​logue

variants also dialog

ˈdī-ə-ˌlȯg,

-ˌläg

1

: a conversation between two or more persons

2

: conversation given in a written story or play