question

American  

[kwes-chuhn] / ˈkwɛs tʃən /

noun

• questions
  plural

1. a sentence in an interrogative form, addressed to someone in order to get information in reply.

   Synonyms:

   interrogation, query, inquiry

   Antonyms:

   reply, answer

2. a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.

3. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed byof ).

   It was simply a question of time.

4. a subject of dispute or controversy.

5. a proposal to be debated or voted on, as in a meeting or a deliberative assembly.

6. the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.

7. Politics. a problem of public policy submitted to the voters for an expression of opinion.

8. Law.

   1. a controversy that is submitted to a judicial tribunal or administrative agency for decision.

   2. the interrogation by which information is secured.

   3. Obsolete. judicial examination or trial.

9. the act of asking or inquiring; interrogation; query.

10. inquiry into or discussion of some problem or doubtful matter.

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verb (used with object)

• questions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• questioned,
  past participle,  past
• questioning
  present participle

1. to ask (someone) a question; ask questions of; interrogate.

   Synonyms:

   examine, query

   Antonyms:

   reply, answer

2. to ask or inquire.

3. to make a question of; doubt.

   He questioned her sincerity.

4. to challenge or dispute.

   She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

verb (used without object)

• questions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• questioned,
  past participle,  past
• questioning
  present participle

1. to ask a question or questions.

idioms

1. in question,

   1. under consideration.

   2. in dispute.

2. call in / into question,

   1. to dispute; challenge.

   2. to cast doubt upon; question.

      This report calls into question all previous research on the subject.

3. out of the question, not to be considered; unthinkable; impossible.

   She thought about a trip to Spain but dismissed it as out of the question.

4. beg the question. beg.

5. beyond question, beyond dispute; without doubt: Also beyond all question

   It was, beyond question, a magnificent performance.

question British  

/ ˈkwɛstʃən /

noun

1. a form of words addressed to a person in order to elicit information or evoke a response; interrogative sentence

2. a point at issue

   it's only a question of time until she dies

   the question is how long they can keep up the pressure

3. a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point

   a question of money

   there's no question about it

4. 1. an act of asking

   2. an investigation into some problem or difficulty

5. a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body

6. to require members of a deliberative assembly to vote on a motion presented

7. law a matter submitted to a court or other tribunal for judicial or quasi-judicial decision

8. (in English law) that part of the issue before a court that is decided by the jury

9. (in English law) that part of the issue before a court that is decided by the judge

10. 1. to avoid giving a direct answer by posing another question

    2. to assume the truth of that which is intended to be proved See petitio principii

11. beyond (any) dispute or doubt

12. 1. to make (something) the subject of disagreement

    2. to cast doubt upon the validity, truth, etc, of (something)

13. under discussion

    this is the man in question

14. beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossible

    the marriage is out of the question

15. informal to propose marriage

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verb

1. to put a question or questions to (a person); interrogate

2. to make (something) the subject of dispute or disagreement

3. to express uncertainty about the validity, truth, etc, of (something); doubt

question More Idioms  

1. see ask a stupid question; beg the question; beside the point (question); beyond question; burning question; call in question; in question; leading question; loaded question; open question; out of the question; pop the question; rhetorical question; without question.

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Usage

Spelling tips for question The word question is hard to spell because it sounds like it might begin with a kw, rather than a qu, as in kwestion. How to spell question: When you ask a question you are on a quest for information. This can help you remember that question begins with qu- rather than kw-. You simply add quest to the common suffix -ion and you have the correct spelling of question.

Synonym Usage

See inquire.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterquestion
  noun
• questioner
  noun
• subquestion
  noun
• outquestion
  verb (used with object)
• prequestion
  verb (used with object)
• requestion
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• questions
  plural

Participles

• questioning
  present
• questioned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• question
  simple
• questions
  simple
• have questioned
  perfect
• has questioned
  perfect
• am questioning
  progressive
• are questioning
  progressive
• is questioning
  progressive
• have been questioning
  perfect progressive
• has been questioning
  perfect progressive

Past

• questioned
  simple
• had questioned
  perfect
• was questioning
  progressive
• were questioning
  progressive
• had been questioning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will question
  simple
• will have questioned
  perfect
• will be questioning
  progressive
• will have been questioning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of question

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English questio(u)n, questiun, from Anglo-French questiun, Middle French question, from Latin quaestiōn- (stem of quaestiō ), equivalent to quaes-, stem of quaerere “to ask” + -tiōn- -tion; (verb) late Middle English, from Middle French questioner, derivative of the noun

Explanation

"How am I doing so far?" "What time is it?" These are questions, in other words — sentences designed to get information from someone. Do you understand this definition? Question can also mean a doubt about the truth of something. If your college professor tells you he has a question about the originality of your term paper, for example, it means you might be getting busted for plagiarism. The act of raising such a doubt is also "to question" something. Finally, a question can be something that depends on a particular condition: "Reading dictionaries is a question of interest and intellect." There's no question you have both, clearly.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

question questions questioned questioning

Flash forward another decade and it remains to be seen whether maternal mental healthcare — including the central question of how American society deals with mothers in extremis — has evolved.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026

Trout was so enthusiastic that, when a reporter asked if he was excited about what the new vision might be, he answered before the reporter could finish asking the question.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Karger points out another important consideration not addressed in your question: your investment strategy and expected return profile of your retirement assets.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

Anthropic is one frontier operator that gives its model permission to waffle on the sentience question, calling it uncertain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

“Not one and the same, though,” she said, the higher pitch of her voice making her sound younger, turning her statement into a question.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Financial hardship was measured separately through questions about day-to-day financial pressure, including whether participants struggled to manage on their income or had difficulty paying bills.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

Declining free cash flow, a reliance on debt to fund capex and questions about returns on capital invested persuaded him to expect underperformance and that proved accurate.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

I had a couple of questions for Katie.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice faced questions in a series of BBC local radio interviews, ahead of his party's autumn conference.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

I kind of like how specific her questions are.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

When questioned by investigators, Henton made no comment, but was charged with 18 offences.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

But Tibetan advocacy groups in exile have questioned China's account of the disaster.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal questioned why Davis would implicate himself in a murder if the account was a fabrication.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Sanft questioned why jurors never heard from Kading or Knight, who was sentenced to 28 years in prison after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2018.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026

The police questioned Paupardin, who said that the Mona Lisa’s suitor was quiet and inconspicuous.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Investors and executives are increasingly questioning the returns they are getting on colossal AI investments, and a public revolt over the spread of data centers is leading to bans in some areas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Professor Mark Sullivan, also from the University of Southampton, said questioning established ideas and observations remains an essential part of the scientific process.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

Fogu was occasionally combative during questioning by a lawyer for the states.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Already being bullied and questioning her identity, she hid the fact she was sharing two rooms with six other family members for almost two years.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

It was only a matter of time before the FBI picked up Hunt and Liddy for questioning.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• argument
• challenge
• confusion
• debate
• difficulty
• dispute
• mystery
• objection
• problem
• query
• uncertainty