discourse
noun
dis·course
| \ ˈdi-ˌskȯrs
, di-ˈskȯrs\
, di-ˈskȯrs\
Definition of discourse
(Entry 1 of 2)
2a
: formal and orderly and usually extended expression of thought on a subject
b
: connected speech or writing
c
: a linguistic unit (such as a conversation or a story) larger than a sentence
3
: a mode of organizing knowledge, ideas, or experience that is rooted in language and its concrete contexts (such as history or institutions)
critical discourse
5
obsolete
: social familiarity
discourse
verb
discoursed;
discoursing
Definition of discourse (Entry 2 of 2)
archaic
: to give forth : utter
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Synonyms for discourse
Synonyms: Noun
chat, colloquy, conversation, converse, dialogue (also dialog), discussion, exchange
Synonyms: Verb
declaim, descant, expatiate, harangue, lecture, orate, speak, talk
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Examples of discourse in a Sentence
Noun
Hans Selye, a Czech physician and biochemist at the University of Montreal, took these ideas further, introducing the term "stress" (borrowed from metallurgy) to describe the way trauma caused overactivity of the adrenal gland, and with it a disruption of bodily equilibrium. In the most extreme case, Selye argued, stress could wear down the body's adaptation mechanisms, resulting in death. His narrative fit well into the cultural discourse of the cold-war era, where, Harrington writes, many saw themselves as "broken by modern life." — Jerome Groopman, New York Times Book Review, 27 Jan. 2008 Such is the exquisite refinement of American political discourse in the early 21st century. — Brad Friedman, Mother Jones, January & February 2006 Literature records itself, shows how its records might be broken, and how the assumptions of a given discourse or culture might thereby be challenged. Shakespeare is, again, the great example. — Richard Poirier, Raritan Reading, 1990 He likes to engage in lively discourse with his visitors. She delivered an entertaining discourse on the current state of the film industry.Verb
The most energetic ingredients in a Ken Burns documentary are the intervals of commentary, the talking heads of historians, sociologists, and critics coming at us in living color and discoursing volubly. — Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 22 Feb. 2002 Clarke had discoursed knowledgeably on the implications of temperature for apples; it was too cool here for … Winesaps, or Granny Smiths, none of which mature promptly enough to beat autumn's first freeze. — David Guterson, Harper's, October 1999 … Bill Clinton was up in the sky-box suites, giving interviews. So The Baltimore Sun's guy on the job was Carl Cannon and he took notes while Clinton discoursed on the importance of Ripken's streak, the value of hard work, the lessons communicated to our youth in a nation troubled by blah blah blah. — Richard Ben Cramer, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 1999 She could discourse for hours on almost any subject. the guest lecturer discoursed at some length on the long-term results of the war
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Polarization, hateful discourse and violence are at levels that many of us have not seen in our lifetimes. — Essence, "Airbnb Works To Clean Up Its Reputation For Racial Discrimination In New 3-Year Report," 11 Sep. 2019 In The Topeka School, Lerner writes from the vantage of 2019, and from the premise that the collective is broken and common discourse has been derailed. — Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, "Boy, Uninterrupted," 10 Sep. 2019 Special thanks to all who made several contributions and who keep raising the bar of discourse and hilarity. — J.d. Crowe | Jdcrowe@al.com, al, "Trump Sharpie caption contest: Top 40 bigly-est winners," 8 Sep. 2019 For one lesson about civil discourse, Miller has her students watch videos of presidential debates where candidates interrupt and point fingers at each other. — Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Here are San Diego County’s five Teachers of the Year," 7 Sep. 2019 These tempting, easy-to-understand Cold War metaphors pervade policy discourse around emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. — Wired, "Cold War Analogies are Warping Tech Policy," 5 Sep. 2019 Especially now, as a cynical establishment seeks restoration, as establishment Kemalist bureaucrats run for cover, and as the divisions in our nation widen and public discourse sounds like rival packs of angry barking dogs. — John Kass, Twin Cities, "John Kass: ‘Ball of Collusion’ thoughtfully connects the dots on Clinton and Obama," 29 Aug. 2019 Many people, including President Donald Trump and Republican politicians trying to crack down on the right to protest, are eager to crusade as champions of liberty and open discourse — until someone lobs the slightest criticism in their direction. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "Bret Stephens's Bedbug Controversy Shows How Too Many Free Speech Champions Are All Talk," 28 Aug. 2019 The need for more plus discourse goes all the way to the top. — Lindsay Schallon, Glamour, "Let's Talk About the ‘F’ Word," 26 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Knights, serfs, monks, men-at-arms, artisans, and shopkeepers traveled these pungent ways, discoursing loudly in decayed Latic and foreign tongues ranging from English to Syrian. — Bruce Dale, National Geographic, "Adored, neglected, and restored: A 1968 Nat Geo feature explored Notre Dame," 17 Apr. 2019 That book opens with a group of Cambridge youths discoursing prettily on the existence of a cow on a riverbank. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Alan Hollinghurst’s Long Journey," 30 Mar. 2018 On the way there, Ed discoursed on Hebrew dialects in the Biblical era, which led to a lively discussion of some arcane points of Catholic Church governance. — Fred Schwarz, National Review, "Bill Buckley’s Last Supper," 10 Feb. 2018 Similar themes are discernable in US discourses occurring after and in reaction to the first Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani nuclear tests. — Terrell Jermaine Starr, The Root, "Why We Should Fear a North Korean Nuclear Attack, Explained," 2 Oct. 2017 Shaffer's play opens with Lettice Douffet, a classically quirky old-lady character, discoursing on the history of a stately British home. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "Westport's 'Lettice & Lovage' Delightfully Messes With Your Head," 7 June 2017 In his weekly addresses to the nation, Gen. Prayuth has discoursed on subjects ranging from the best way to cook rice to gardening tips. — James Hookway, WSJ, "Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Set to Gain Clout in Royal Succession," 17 Oct. 2016 The freedoms to live out your true sexual identity or use a bathroom without being discriminated against are not akin to discourse about the Trans-Pacific Partnership or Super PACs. — Sarah Rense, Esquire, "Sam Bee Is at the Top of Her Game, So of Course a Columnist Tries to Take Her Down," 21 Sep. 2016 Lately, I’ve also written a lot about free speech, academic freedom, and norms around discourse on college campuses. — Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "The Lessons of Bygone Free-Speech Fights," 10 Dec. 2015These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discourse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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