query

[ kweer-ee ]

noun

, plural que·ries.

1. a question; an inquiry.
2. mental reservation; doubt.
3. Printing. a question mark (?), especially as added on a manuscript, proof sheet, or the like, indicating doubt as to some point in the text.
4. an inquiry from a writer to an editor of a magazine, newspaper, etc., regarding the acceptability of or interest in an idea for an article, news story, or the like: usually presented in the form of a letter that outlines or describes the projected piece.

verb (used with object)

, que·ried, que·ry·ing.

1. to ask or inquire about:

   No one queried his presence.

2. to question as doubtful or obscure:

   to query a statement.

3. Printing. to mark (a manuscript, proof sheet, etc.) with a query.
4. to ask questions of.

query

/ ˈkwɪərɪ /

noun

1. a question, esp one expressing doubt, uncertainty, or an objection
2. See question mark
   a less common name for question mark

verb

1. to express uncertainty, doubt, or an objection concerning (something)
2. to express as a query

   "What's up now?" she queried

3. to put a question to (a person); ask

Other Words From

• query·ing·ly adverb
• outquery verb (used with object) outqueried outquerying
• un·queried adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of query¹

First recorded in 1625–35; alteration (with the influence of -y ³ ) of earlier quere, from Latin quaere quaere

Word History and Origins

Origin of query¹

C17: from earlier quere, from Latin quaere ask!, from quaerere to seek, inquire

Example Sentences

When a person uses their mobile phone for a voice query, for example, it’s not a good user experience if the page they are delivered to isn’t optimized for mobile.

From Search Engine Watch

Additionally, last year, YouTube launched the “TrueView for Reach” option for short commercials, which analyzes the search queries to predict the relevance of advertising.

From Search Engine Watch

A web page ranking is highly influenced by the topical relevance of the page to a search query.

From Search Engine Watch

Culture can hugely influence how people formulate their online queries and you can’t ignore this factor when choosing location-specific keywords.

From Search Engine Watch

The only goal of search engine updates is to provide the best results when users search a query.

From Search Engine Watch

Clinton's spokesman Nick Merrill responded Thursday with one word to an emailed query: "Rumors."

From The Daily Beast

Your query will be answered with a blank stare, followed by a long pause and half-hearted reply: My accountant?

From The Daily Beast

For that reason, it is essential for a neutral and detached judge to make the decision whether any particular query is warranted.

From The Daily Beast

And depending on how this case plays out, that could be a serious query.

From The Daily Beast

So Lopez also does his homework and hands out a query sheet with questions.

From The Daily Beast

I didn't much like his offhand way of asking; not that it wasn't a perfectly legitimate query.

From Project Gutenberg

I asked sharply, and MacRae flung the same query over one shoulder as he fumbled at the tight-drawn latigo-knot.

From Project Gutenberg

And MacRae's patience snapped like a frayed thread before many minutes of futile query.

From Project Gutenberg

This query is no doubt a very correct and moral one, but it seems somewhat cryptic.

From Project Gutenberg

Query, What did the ghost come for, and was the second husband at all jealous of his coming?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inquiry
• objection
• question
• questioning
• reservation
• skepticism