dialogue

UKDY-uh-log/ˈdaɪəlɒɡ/DY-uh-lawg/ˈdaɪəˌlɔɡ/

Pluraldialogues

US spellingdialog

7 meanings of dialogue

Practice

1
talking togethernouncountable or uncountable
A talk between two or more people, in speech or in writing.
The teacher wants an open dialogue with parents about homework.
The letters show a long dialogue between the two sisters about their mother's illness.
UsageSay a dialogue with someone or between two groups.
Similardiscussion
Note
2
characters' linesnoununcountable
The words that people in a film, play or book say to each other.
The dialogue in this cartoon is really funny.
She learned all her dialogue for the school play in one weekend.
UsageFor one part, say a line of dialogue.
Note
3
nouncountable or uncountable
Formal talks between countries or groups who want to end a disagreement or understand each other.
The leaders of both countries said they wanted dialogue, not war.
The union and the company started a dialogue to end the strike.
UsageGroups start, open or hold a dialogue with each other.
Similartalks, negotiation
4
literary formnouncountable or uncountable
A kind of writing that looks like people talking to each other, often used to explain ideas.
The book is written as a dialogue between a teacher and a young boy.
In class we read one of Plato's dialogues about friendship.
Note
5
on-screen boxnouncountable or uncountable
Another spelling of dialog, the box on screen that asks you to choose something. US software usually spells it dialog.
Click Yes in the dialogue that opens on your screen.
A dialogue asked me if I wanted to save the file.
Note

Less common meanings

6
verbcolloquial
To talk things through with others so that everyone understands each other.
Our team needs to dialogue with the suppliers about the late orders.
The two companies dialogued for a month before they signed the contract.
UsageUsually dialogue with someone. Many writers prefer talk with instead.
7
rewrite as talkverbtransitive
To write something again as people talking to each other.
Our teacher asked us to dialogue the story and act it out.
She dialogued the news report as a chat between two friends.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of dialogue apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes, through French and Latin, from a Greek word meaning “conversation”, made from words meaning “through” and “to speak”.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Dialogue comes through French and Latin from Greek. en.wiktionary.org
The Greek source word means ‘conversation’. en.wiktionary.org
The Greek formation ultimately combines elements meaning ‘through’ and ‘to speak’. en.wiktionary.org