question

[ kwes-chuhn ]
See synonyms for: questionquestionedquestioningquestions on Thesaurus.com
noun

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

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

  1. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed by of): It was simply a question of time.

  2. a subject of dispute or controversy.

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

  4. the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.

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

  6. Law.

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

    • the interrogation by which information is secured.

    • Obsolete. judicial examination or trial.

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

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

verb (used with object)

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

  2. to ask or inquire.

  1. to make a question of; doubt: He questioned her sincerity.

  2. to challenge or dispute: She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

verb (used without object)

  1. to ask a question or questions.

Idioms about question

  1. beg the question. beg1 (def. 9).

  2. beyond question, beyond dispute; without doubt: It was, beyond question, a magnificent performance.: Also beyond all question .

  1. call in / into question,

    • to dispute; challenge.

    • to cast doubt upon; question: This report calls into question all previous research on the subject.

  2. in question,

    • under consideration.

    • in dispute.

  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.

Origin of question

1
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

synonym study For question

12. See inquire.

Other words for question

Opposites for question

Other words from question

  • ques·tion·er, noun
  • coun·ter·ques·tion, noun, verb
  • outquestion, verb (used with object)
  • pre·ques·tion, verb (used with object)
  • re·ques·tion, verb (used with object)
  • sub·ques·tion, noun

Words Nearby question

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use question in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for question

question

/ (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

  1. a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point: a question of money; there's no question about it

    • an act of asking

    • an investigation into some problem or difficulty

  3. a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body

  4. put the question to require members of a deliberative assembly to vote on a motion presented

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

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

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

  8. beg the question

    • to avoid giving a direct answer by posing another question

    • to assume the truth of that which is intended to be proved: See petitio principii

  9. beyond (all) question beyond (any) dispute or doubt

  10. call in or into question

    • to make (something) the subject of disagreement

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

  11. in question under discussion: this is the man in question

  12. out of the question beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossible: the marriage is out of the question

  13. pop the question informal to propose marriage

verb(mainly tr)

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

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

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

Origin of question

1
C13: via Old French from Latin quaestiō, from quaerere to seek

usage For question

The question whether should be used rather than the question of whether or the question as to whether: this leaves open the question whether he acted correctly

Derived forms of question

  • questioner, noun

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with question

question

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.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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