What does debate mean?
Word: Debate
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Debate means a talk in which people give different opinions on a topic. In a formal debate, two sides argue for and against an idea.
Synonyms: argument
How do you spell debate?
Syllables: de - bate
Tricky part: It begins with de, not di, has only one b, and ends in -ate, not -ait.
Watch out for: debait, dibate, debbate
Memory tip: Debate ends in bate, like gate and late, and needs just one b.
Debate in a sentence
Example 1: Our class held a debate on whether homework should be banned.
Example 2: Luca spoke first for his school in the inter-school debate.
Example 3: There was a long debate in the family about where to go for the picnic.
Fun Fact
Debate comes from the Old French debatre, built on battre, to beat. The cooking word batter, a mixture you beat, comes from the same root.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) debate
b) speach
c) arguement
d) opinon
Show answer
a) debate. Debate has one b and ends in -ate; arguement keeps an e it should drop, while opinon and speach miss or swap a vowel.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
debate
a) agreement
b) discussion
c) applause
d) silence
Show answer
b) discussion. A debate is a discussion where people share different views.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
baedet
a) deface
b) bathed
c) beaded
d) debate
Show answer
d) debate. One b, one d, one t and two e's: beaded needs a second d, and bathed an h.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The judges listened carefully to every speakar in the debate.
a) speakar
b) debate
c) carefully
d) judges
Show answer
a) speakar. Speaker ends in er, like teacher and reader.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the main thing you do in a debate?
a) read a story aloud
b) ask the audience riddles
c) recite a poem by heart
d) give reasons for your opinion
Show answer
d) give reasons for your opinion
2. Which is a good topic for a class debate?
a) How many days are in a week?
b) Should school start later in the morning?
c) What colour is a ripe banana?
d) What is the capital of France?
Show answer
b) Should school start later in the morning?
