Discuss vs. Talk — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 9, 2024
Discuss involves a focused exchange on specific topics, while talk can be informal or general conversation.
Difference Between Discuss and Talk
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Discuss is characterized by a deliberate and structured exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular subject, aiming for clarity, understanding, or decision-making. On the other hand, talk encompasses a broader range of verbal interactions, from casual conversations to formal presentations, not necessarily centered on a specific topic or outcome.
While discussing often implies an interactive dialogue with two or more people contributing insights on a matter, talking can be a one-sided activity or a dialogue that doesn't require the exchange of in-depth ideas. In discussions, participants actively engage with the subject matter, whereas talking can simply involve sharing information or experiences without the necessity for engagement or feedback.
Discussions are typically goal-oriented, with participants seeking to explore a topic thoroughly, solve a problem, or come to a consensus. In contrast, talking can serve various purposes, including socializing, informing, or entertaining, without the explicit intent to reach a deep understanding or agreement on the subject matter.
In a discussion, there is an expectation of relevant contributions from all parties, where the dialogue is driven by questions, arguments, and counterarguments related to the topic at hand. However, when people talk, the conversation may flow freely without the need for structured arguments or a focus on relevancy, allowing for a wider range of subjects to be covered.
The outcome of a discussion is often a clearer insight, a decision, or a plan of action, reflecting the purposeful nature of the exchange. Meanwhile, the outcome of talking might simply be the enjoyment of social interaction, the sharing of news, or the expression of thoughts and feelings, without a concrete resolution or conclusion being necessary.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To exchange ideas or opinions on a specific topic.
To communicate information or engage in conversation.
Structure
Structured and focused on the topic.
Can be informal and wide-ranging.
Interaction
Requires active engagement and contribution.
Can be one-sided or involve back-and-forth dialogue.
Goal
To reach understanding, decision, or consensus.
Varied, including socializing, informing, entertaining.
Outcome
Insights, decisions, or action plans.
Enjoyment, shared information, expressed thoughts.
Compare with Definitions
Discuss
Focused conversation.
The committee will discuss the budget proposals next week.
Talk
Social interaction.
It was nice talking with you at the party last night.
Discuss
Engagement required.
During the meeting, each member discussed their concerns.
Talk
General conversation.
We talked about our weekend plans over coffee.
Discuss
Outcome-oriented.
The discussion concluded with a plan to reduce costs.
Talk
Informal exchange.
They talked on the phone for hours about various topics.
Discuss
Structured exchange.
The panel discussion on climate change was insightful.
Talk
Varied outcomes.
Our talk helped me understand your point of view better.
Discuss
Decision-making.
After discussing the options, they chose the most feasible one.
Talk
Can be one-sided.
The professor talked about quantum mechanics in today’s lecture.
Discuss
Talk about (something) with a person or people
They were discussing where to go for a drink
I discussed the matter with my wife
Talk
Speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings; converse or communicate by spoken words
The two men talked
You're talking rubbish
It was no use talking to Anthony
We'd sit and talk about jazz
Discuss
To speak with another or others about; talk over
Discussed the matter briefly.
Talk
Have formal dealings or discussions; negotiate
They won't talk to the regime that killed their families
Discuss
To examine or consider (a subject) in speech or writing
The book discusses the challenges that journalists face today.
Talk
Use (a particular language) in speech
We were talking German
Discuss
To speak with another or others about something
As we discussed yesterday, the problem could have more than one solution.
Talk
Communication by spoken words; conversation or discussion
There was a slight but noticeable lull in the talk
Discuss
To examine or consider a subject in speech or writing.
Talk
Formal discussions or negotiations over a period
Peace talks
Discuss
To come to an agreement as a result of a discussion
As we discussed, you will clean your room before going out.
Talk
An informal address or lecture
A thirty-minute illustrated talk
A talk on a day in the life of an actor
Discuss
(transitive) To converse or debate concerning a particular topic.
Let's sit down and discuss this rationally.
I don't wish to discuss this further. Let's talk about something else.
Talk
To exchange thoughts or opinions in spoken or sign language; converse
We talked for hours.
Discuss
To communicate, tell, or disclose (information, a message, etc.).
Talk
To utter or pronounce words
The baby can talk.
Discuss
To break to pieces; to shatter.
Talk
To imitate the sounds of human speech
The parrot talks.
Discuss
To deal with, in eating or drinking; consume.
Talk
To express one's thoughts or emotions by means of spoken language
The candidate talked about the pros and cons of the issue.
Discuss
To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety.
Talk
To convey one's thoughts in a way other than by spoken words
Talk with one's hands.
Discuss
To drive away, disperse, shake off; said especially of tumors.
Talk
To express one's thoughts or feelings in writing
Voltaire talks about London in this book.
Discuss
To break to pieces; to shatter.
Talk
To convey information in text
The article talks about the latest fashions.
Discuss
To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; - said especially of tumors.
Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection.
A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples.
Talk
To negotiate with someone; parley
Let's talk instead of fighting.
Discuss
To shake; to put away; to finish.
All regard of shame she had discussed.
Talk
To consult or confer with someone
I talked with the doctor.
Discuss
To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate.
Talk
To spread rumors; gossip
If you do that, people will talk.
Discuss
To deal with, in eating or drinking.
We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us.
Talk
To allude to something
Are you talking about last week?.
Discuss
To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety.
Talk
To reveal information concerning oneself or others, especially under pressure
Has the prisoner talked?.
Discuss
To consider or examine in speech or writing;
The article covered all the different aspects of this question
The class discussed Dante's `Inferno'
Talk
(Informal) To be efficacious
Money talks.
Discuss
Speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion;
We discussed our household budget
Talk
To utter or pronounce (words)
Their son is talking sentences now.
Talk
To speak about or discuss (something) or give expression to (something)
Talk business.
Talk treason.
Talk
Used to emphasize the extent or seriousness of something being mentioned
The police found money in the car. We're talking significant amounts of money.
Talk
To speak or know how to speak (a language or a language variety)
The passenger talked French with the flight crew. Can you talk the local dialect?.
Talk
To cause (someone) to be in a certain state or to do something by talking
They talked me into coming.
Talk
An exchange of ideas or opinions; a conversation
We had a nice talk over lunch.
Talk
A speech or lecture
He gave a talk on art.
Talk
Hearsay, rumor, or speculation
There is talk of bankruptcy.
Talk
A subject of conversation
A musical that is the talk of the town.
Talk
Often talks A conference or negotiation
Peace talks.
Talk
A particular manner of speech
Baby talk.
Honeyed talk.
Talk
Empty speech or unnecessary discussion
A lot of talk and no action.
Talk
Jargon or slang
Prison talk.
Talk
Something, such as the sounds of animals, felt to resemble human talk
Whale talk.
Talk
(intransitive) To communicate, usually by means of speech.
Let's sit down and talk.
Although I don't speak Chinese I managed to talk with the villagers using signs and gestures.
Talk
To discuss; to talk about.
They sat down to talk business.
That's enough about work, let's talk holidays!
Talk
(transitive) To speak (a certain language).
We talk French sometimes.
Talk
Used to emphasise the importance, size, complexity etc. of the thing mentioned.
Are you interested in the job? They're talking big money.
We're not talking rocket science here: it should be easy.
Talk
To confess, especially implicating others.
Suppose he talks?
She can be relied upon not to talk.
They tried to make me talk.
Talk
(intransitive) To criticize someone for something of which one is guilty oneself.
I am not the one to talk.
She is a fine one to talk.
You should talk.
Look who's talking.
Talk
(intransitive) To gossip; to create scandal.
People will talk.
Aren't you afraid the neighbours will talk?
Talk
To influence someone to express something, especially a particular stance or viewpoint or in a particular manner.
You're only sticking up for her because you like her; that's your penis talking.
That's not like you at all, Jared. The drugs are talking. Snap out of it!
Talk
A conversation or discussion; usually serious, but informal.
We need to have a talk about your homework.
Talk
A lecture.
Talk
(uncountable) Gossip; rumour.
There's been talk lately about the two of them.
Talk
A major topic of social discussion.
She is the talk of the day.
The musical is the talk of the town.
Talk
A customary conversation by parent(s) or guardian(s) with their (often teenaged) child about a reality of life; in particular:
Talk
(US) A customary conversation in which the parent(s) of a black child explain the racism and violence they may face, especially when interacting with police, and strategies to manage it.
Talk
Empty boasting, promises or claims.
The party leader's speech was all talk.
Talk
Meeting to discuss a particular matter.
The leaders of the G8 nations are currently in talks over nuclear weapons.
Talk
To utter words; esp., to converse familiarly; to speak, as in familiar discourse, when two or more persons interchange thoughts.
I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you.
Talk
To confer; to reason; to consult.
Let me talk with thee of thy judgments.
Talk
To prate; to speak impertinently.
Talk
To speak freely; to use for conversing or communicating; as, to talk French.
Talk
To deliver in talking; to speak; to utter; to make a subject of conversation; as, to talk nonsense; to talk politics.
Talk
To consume or spend in talking; - often followed by away; as, to talk away an evening.
Talk
To cause to be or become by talking.
Talk
The act of talking; especially, familiar converse; mutual discourse; that which is uttered, especially in familiar conversation, or the mutual converse of two or more.
In various talk the instructive hours they passed.
Their talk, when it was not made up of nautical phrases, was too commonly made up of oaths and curses.
Talk
Report; rumor; as, to hear talk of war.
I hear a talk up and down of raising our money.
Talk
Subject of discourse; as, his achievment is the talk of the town.
Talk
An exchange of ideas via conversation;
Let's have more work and less talk around here
Talk
(`talk about' is a less formal alternative for `discussion of') discussion;
His poetry contains much talk about love and anger
Talk
The act of giving a talk to an audience;
I attended an interesting talk on local history
Talk
A speech that is open to the public;
He attended a lecture on telecommunications
Talk
Idle gossip or rumor;
There has been talk about you lately
Talk
Exchange thoughts; talk with;
We often talk business
Actions talk louder than words
Talk
Express in speech;
She talks a lot of nonsense
This depressed patient does not verbalize
Talk
Use language;
The baby talks already
The prisoner won't speak
They speak a strange dialect
Talk
Reveal information;
If you don't oblige me, I'll talk!
The former employee spilled all the details
Talk
Divulge confidential information or secrets;
Be careful--his secretary talks
Talk
Deliver a lecture or talk;
She will talk at Rutgers next week
Did you ever lecture at Harvard?
Common Curiosities
How important is listening in a discussion?
Listening is crucial in discussions as it ensures that participants understand each other's perspectives, contributing to a more effective and meaningful exchange.
How do discussions benefit problem-solving?
Discussions allow for multiple perspectives to be considered, fostering creative solutions and consensus, which is beneficial in problem-solving.
Can talking lead to a discussion?
Yes, casual talking can evolve into a discussion if a specific topic of mutual interest arises, leading to a more structured and goal-oriented exchange.
What makes talking different from discussing?
Talking can be informal and encompass a wide range of topics without the structured exchange of ideas or the goal orientation characteristic of discussions.
Can everyone talk and discuss effectively?
Effective talking and discussing skills can vary among individuals but can be improved with practice and by actively listening and engaging with others.
What defines a discussion?
A discussion is a focused conversation where participants exchange ideas or opinions on a specific topic, often with a goal or decision in mind.
Is a lecture considered a discussion or talk?
A lecture is more aligned with talking, particularly if it's one-sided, although it can incorporate discussion elements if interaction is encouraged.
Can a discussion be informal?
Yes, discussions can be informal when the exchange of ideas occurs in a relaxed setting, though they remain focused on a specific topic or goal.
Is it possible to talk without communicating effectively?
Yes, talking without clear communication can occur, especially if the conversation lacks focus, understanding, or engagement from the participants.
What role does body language play in talking and discussing?
Body language significantly impacts both talking and discussing, as it can convey attitudes, emotions, and responses non-verbally, enhancing or hindering communication.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
