query

American  

[kweer-ee] / ˈkwɪər i /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈkwɪərɪ /

noun

1. a question, esp one expressing doubt, uncertainty, or an objection

2. a less common name for question mark

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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

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

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."

Example Sentences

It’s a query that McCarthy, who came of age — and amassed megawatt fame — as a 1980s heartthrob in films like “Class” and “Pretty in Pink” before transitioning to feted author, longs to address.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Second Brain was built by a Meta employee on top of Claude and can index and query documents for projects, among other uses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Every query Siri resolves on-device is a session that never begins on Instagram or another Meta product.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

And then he interrupted a question to return to a previous query about his play calling, needing to rebut the strangers on the internet picking apart his work.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

In their coded exchanges they had drawn close, but how artificial that closeness seemed now as they embarked on their small talk, their helpless catechism of polite query and response.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

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