query

[kweer-ee]

noun

plural

queries 

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)

queried, querying 

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. 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 Word Forms

• queryingly adverb
• outquery verb (used with object)
• unqueried 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

Wade, he suggested, may channel its efforts toward querying the morality and legality of editing human genes in the womb.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Imagine approaching people, asking them a question, then watching them walk away—either leaving your query unanswered or taking excessive time to respond.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Inside the app, you can ask queries like, “When did the gardener arrive last week?” to pull up relevant clips.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

OpenAI plans to use the AMD chips for inference functions, or the computations that allow AI applications such as chat bots to respond to user queries.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI will buy tens of thousands of AMD chips to power 6 gigawatts of computing capacity for inference functions, which allow AI models to respond to user queries.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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