disagree
B1Neutral to formal. Common in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
to have a different opinion; to not agree.
to fail to correspond or match; to cause a bad physical reaction (e.g., food disagreeing with someone).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically refers to opinions or statements. Can describe a conflict between people, facts, or elements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'disagreement' is identical. Usage: The phrase 'I beg to differ' as a polite form of disagreeing is more common in British English.
Connotations
Slightly more direct in American English. British English may use more hedging (e.g., 'I'm not sure I entirely agree').
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American political and media discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
disagree with [person/opinion]disagree about/on [topic]disagree that [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Agree to disagree.”
- “Beg to differ.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings: 'I disagree with the proposed timeline.'
Academic
Used in debates and papers: 'The author's conclusions disagree with established data.'
Everyday
Common in conversation: 'We disagree about which film to watch.'
Technical
In science/tech: 'The experimental results disagree with the theoretical model.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'm afraid I must disagree with your assessment of the situation.
- The committee disagreed on the new policy.
American English
- I strongly disagree with that statement.
- Their stories disagree on several key points.
adverb
British English
- He nodded disagreeingly.
American English
- She looked at him disagreeingly.
adjective
British English
- We held disagreeing views on the matter.
American English
- The disagreeing parties were asked to submit new proposals.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend and I disagree about music.
- I disagree with you.
- The scientists disagree about the cause of the problem.
- Spicy food disagrees with me.
- While I respect his expertise, I fundamentally disagree with his conclusion.
- The two historical accounts disagree markedly on the sequence of events.
- The panelists disagreed vehemently on the ethical implications of the technology.
- The witness's testimony disagreed with the documentary evidence in several crucial respects.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIS' (not) + 'AGREE' (to have the same opinion).
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT IS ALIGNMENT / DISAGREEMENT IS CONFLICT. (e.g., 'We are on different pages.', 'Our views clash.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation of 'не согласен' into '*not agree' – use 'disagree'.
- Do not confuse with 'disapprove' (не одобрять). Disagree is about opinions, disapprove is about moral judgment.
Common Mistakes
- *I am disagree (correct: I disagree).
- *I disagree to your plan (correct: I disagree with your plan).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition is correct after 'disagree' when referring to a person?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun form is 'disagreement'.
Yes, it can be intransitive. Example: 'On this issue, we simply disagree.'
'Disagree' means to hold a different opinion. 'Argue' implies a more heated exchange or debate about the disagreement.
It is a more formal and often slightly softer or more polite way of expressing disagreement.
Collections
Part of a collection
Media and Communication
B1 · 50 words · Language for discussing media and communication.