Meaning & use
converse
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Meanings
verbintransitiveformal
To talk with someone in a friendly and informal way, exchanging ideas or information.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'with' (the person) and 'about' (the topic): 'converse with a friend about music'.
Patterns
- converse with someone
- converse about something
- converse with someone about something
They conversed quietly in the corner of the room.
I enjoy conversing with people from different cultures.
The two leaders conversed about trade and security.
nounsingular
The opposite or reverse of a statement, situation, or idea.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the': 'the converse is also true'. Not used with 'a' or in the plural in this sense.
Patterns
- the converse of something
- the converse is true
If you are kind to others, they will be kind to you; the converse is also true.
The converse of 'all cats are animals' is not necessarily true.
She believed that money brings happiness, but the converse is often the case.
Word forms
| third person singular | converses |
|---|---|
| past tense | conversed |
| past participle | conversed |
| -ing form | conversing |
Common combinations
- converse with someone
- She likes to converse with her grandmother about the old days.
- converse freely
- After a few minutes, the students began to converse freely.
- the converse is true
- Some people think that if you work hard you will succeed, but the converse is not always true.
- converse about something
- They conversed about politics for hours.
Synonyms and how they differ
- talk
- More general and less formal; 'converse' suggests a more polite or formal exchange.
- chat
- Informal and light; 'converse' can be used in formal contexts.
- speak
- Focuses on the act of speaking rather than a two-way exchange.
- opposite
- For the noun sense, 'opposite' is a more common everyday word.
Opposites
Word family
- conversation noun
- A talk between people.
- conversational adjective
- Relating to conversation; suitable for informal talk.
- conversely adverb
- From the opposite point of view; used to introduce a contrasting idea.
Commonly confused: converse or conversate? converse or conversion?
converse vs conversate
A common mistake; 'conversate' is not standard English. Use 'converse' or 'talk' instead.
converse vs conversion
A noun meaning 'the act of changing'; not related to talking.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Converse' is intransitive and takes 'about' before a topic: 'converse about the weather'. 'Converse with' is used for people, not topics, so the other options are wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “converse”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.