query
Americannoun
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queries
plural
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a question; an inquiry.
-
mental reservation; doubt.
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Printing. a question mark (?), especially as added on a manuscript, proof sheet, or the like, indicating doubt as to some point in the text.
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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)
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queries,
present (3rd person singular)
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queried,
past participle, past
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querying
present participle
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to ask or inquire about.
No one queried his presence.
-
to question as doubtful or obscure.
to query a statement.
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Printing. to mark (a manuscript, proof sheet, etc.) with a query.
-
to ask questions of.
noun
-
a question, esp one expressing doubt, uncertainty, or an objection
-
a less common name for question mark
verb
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to express uncertainty, doubt, or an objection concerning (something)
-
to express as a query
"What's up now?" she queried
-
to put a question to (a person); ask
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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querysimple
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queriessimple
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have queriedperfect
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has queriedperfect
-
am queryingprogressive
-
are queryingprogressive
-
is queryingprogressive
-
have been queryingperfect progressive
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has been queryingperfect progressive
Past
-
queriedsimple
-
had queriedperfect
-
was queryingprogressive
-
were queryingprogressive
-
had been queryingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of query
First recorded in 1625–35; alteration (with the influence of -y 3 ) of earlier quere, from Latin quaere quaere
Explanation
A query is a question, or the search for a piece of information. The Latin root quaere means "to ask" and it's the basis of the words inquiry, question, quest, request, and query. Query often fits the bill when referring to Internet searches, polite professional discourse, and subtle pleas. You could query as to the whereabouts of the lavatory, but you'd sound a bit prim and be better off asking "Where's the toilet?" If your job entails dealing with annoying questions and complaints, you could make it sound better by proclaiming, "I respond to customer queries."
Vocabulary lists containing query
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Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The cost of running a query at GPT-3.5-level performance fell more than 280-fold between 2022 and 2024.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Rohingya make up the majority of Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, but Kuala Lumpur has not responded to an AFP query about the number onboard.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
Before retiring the officer provided a statement that he had called her to advise of the intended police response to a media query, and about how information about the case could be reported and used.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened an audit query to examine the process and technical data Tesla used to certify the Cybercab.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
“Julia’s parents said she could go. Can I go too?” was Christine’s constant query to her parents.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
But answering local queries and frustrations is getting trickier as resistance picks up, with government officials and residents expressing worries about everything from electricity prices to water waste.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
A chatbot account connected to Alfozan's spouse also allegedly contained queries related to remote audio recording and encrypting memory cards.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Take a look back at the memorable unsolved queries that Slate readers were pondering 20 years ago.
From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026
So far, many proposed responses focus on heading off the risks: slowing AI research, setting standards or blocking AI models from responding to dangerous queries in the first place.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
The Count looked thoroughly puzzled by Poirot’s queries.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Monday’s research queried people about their jobs, how often they use AI and how they use it.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
He queried aides about why Iran wasn’t backing down amid the unrelenting bombing campaign.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Some have queried if it would be merited.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
We queried experts across sports medicine, personal training and physical therapy to devise easy routines comprising simple exercises you can do at home to test and train your balance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
“With all the forest to run in,” Taran queried, “how can we begin to search? She might have gone anywhere in Prydain.”
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
An October 2025 report from the Justice Department Inspector General found that the FBI has “implemented all of RISAA’s querying reforms” and that the number of noncompliant queries had been “reduced substantially.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
Several cast doubt on Burnham's popularity among the Parliamentary Labour Party, with some querying if he would have support from the 80-odd MPs needed to trigger a leadership contest.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026
In more than 600 agricultural safety investigations, officials never visited worksites and instead performed “letter investigations,” or querying employers by mail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2025
Wolff was also receiving advice from Epstein, at one point querying him about the best questions to ask Trump in a coming Oval Office interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 15, 2025
“Going around, querying publishers, trying to find an agent. I haven’t done it, and I am not interested in doing it.”
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
