Meaning & use
quarrel
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
An angry argument between people, often about a personal matter.
Grammar: Takes a plural and often the preposition with or over: a quarrel with a friend over money.
Patterns
- a quarrel with someone
- a quarrel over something
- a quarrel between people
The two sisters had a quarrel about who would borrow the car.
A small quarrel over dishes grew into a week of silence.
Their quarrel ended as quickly as it began.
verbintransitive
To argue angrily with someone.
Grammar: No object; often used with with or about: quarrel with a neighbor.
Patterns
- quarrel with someone
- quarrel about something
- quarrel over something
The brothers quarreled constantly when they were young.
I don't want to quarrel with you about this.
The neighbors quarrel over the fence every spring.
nounusually singularformal
A reason to complain or disagree with something.
Grammar: Usually appears in the pattern no quarrel with something.
Patterns
- have no quarrel with someone
- a quarrel with something
I have no quarrel with the plan itself, only with the timing.
We have no quarrel with the other team's victory.
She has a quarrel with the way the story ends.
Word forms
| plural | quarrels |
|---|---|
| third person singular | quarrels |
| past tense | quarreled |
| past participle | quarreled |
| -ing form | quarreling |
Common combinations
- have a quarrel
- They had a quarrel on the way home.
- patch up a quarrel
- It took a week to patch up the quarrel.
- a bitter quarrel
- A bitter quarrel split the family.
- pick a quarrel
- He seemed to be trying to pick a quarrel with everyone.
- quarrel over
- Don't quarrel over such small things.
Synonyms and how they differ
- argument
- Argument is neutral and may be calm reasoning, while quarrel always means angry feelings.
- row
- Row is British, informal and often noisy, suggesting a short, loud fight.
- squabble
- Squabble means a petty argument over something unimportant.
- feud
- A feud is a long-lasting quarrel, often between families or groups.
Opposites
Word family
- quarrelsome adjective
- fond of arguing
- quarreling noun
- angry arguing
- quarreler noun
- a person who quarrels
Commonly confused: quarrel or quarry? quarrel or squabble?
quarrel vs quarry
A quarry is a place where stone is dug, or an animal being hunted; it does not mean an argument.
quarrel vs squabble
A squabble is smaller and pettier than a quarrel.
Practice
The two friends had a bitter ___ over money and stopped speaking.
Choose one answer.
A quarrel is an angry argument. Quarry is a stone pit, query is a question, and quarter does not fit the sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “quarrel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.