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Synonyms

open question

British  

noun

  1. a matter which is undecided

  2. a question that cannot be answered with a yes or no but requires a developed answer

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

open question Idioms  
  1. An unresolved issue, one that has not been finally determined. For example, Whether the town should pave all the unpaved roads remains an open question. In the mid-1800s this term acquired a specific meaning in the British Parliament, that is, “an issue on which members may vote independently, without respect to their party affiliation.”


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:

Whether there are enough buyers with the means to absorb so many large deals at once this summer remains an open question.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 14, 2026

There is compelling strategic logic behind Comcast’s move to spin off NBCUniversal into a separate company — but whether it will ultimately deliver value for shareholders is an open question.

From MarketWatch Jun. 30, 2026

Where the money will come from to cover these losses and power the industry ahead is an open question.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 23, 2026

They are increasingly unified in the belief that Burnham's destination of Downing Street is assured, and that the only open question is the precise path for getting there.

From BBC Jun. 19, 2026

Whether the human race can actually maintain a population of five billion or more without a crash with a hot virus remains an open question.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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