question

American  

[kwes-chuhn] / ˈkwɛs tʃən /

noun

• questions
  plural

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

   Synonyms:

   interrogation, query, inquiry

   Antonyms:

   reply, answer

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

3. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed byof ).

   It was simply a question of time.

4. a subject of dispute or controversy.

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

6. the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.

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

8. Law.

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

   2. the interrogation by which information is secured.

   3. Obsolete. judicial examination or trial.

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

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

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verb (used with object)

• questions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• questioned,
  past participle,  past
• questioning
  present participle

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

   Synonyms:

   examine, query

   Antonyms:

   reply, answer

2. to ask or inquire.

3. to make a question of; doubt.

   He questioned her sincerity.

4. to challenge or dispute.

   She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

verb (used without object)

• questions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• questioned,
  past participle,  past
• questioning
  present participle

1. to ask a question or questions.

idioms

1. in question,

   1. under consideration.

   2. in dispute.

2. call in / into question,

   1. to dispute; challenge.

   2. to cast doubt upon; question.

      This report calls into question all previous research on the subject.

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.

4. beg the question. beg.

5. beyond question, beyond dispute; without doubt: Also beyond all question

   It was, beyond question, a magnificent performance.

question British  

/ 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

3. a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point

   a question of money

   there's no question about it

4. 1. an act of asking

   2. an investigation into some problem or difficulty

5. a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body

6. to require members of a deliberative assembly to vote on a motion presented

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

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

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

10. 1. to avoid giving a direct answer by posing another question

    2. to assume the truth of that which is intended to be proved See petitio principii

11. beyond (any) dispute or doubt

12. 1. to make (something) the subject of disagreement

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

13. under discussion

    this is the man in question

14. beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossible

    the marriage is out of the question

15. informal to propose marriage

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verb

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

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

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

question More Idioms  

1. 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.

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Usage

Spelling tips for question The word question is hard to spell because it sounds like it might begin with a kw, rather than a qu, as in kwestion. How to spell question: When you ask a question you are on a quest for information. This can help you remember that question begins with qu- rather than kw-. You simply add quest to the common suffix -ion and you have the correct spelling of question.

Synonym Usage

See inquire.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterquestion
  noun
• questioner
  noun
• subquestion
  noun
• outquestion
  verb (used with object)
• prequestion
  verb (used with object)
• requestion
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• questions
  plural

Participles

• questioning
  present
• questioned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• question
  simple
• questions
  simple
• have questioned
  perfect
• has questioned
  perfect
• am questioning
  progressive
• are questioning
  progressive
• is questioning
  progressive
• have been questioning
  perfect progressive
• has been questioning
  perfect progressive

Past

• questioned
  simple
• had questioned
  perfect
• was questioning
  progressive
• were questioning
  progressive
• had been questioning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will question
  simple
• will have questioned
  perfect
• will be questioning
  progressive
• will have been questioning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of question

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

Explanation

"How am I doing so far?" "What time is it?" These are questions, in other words — sentences designed to get information from someone. Do you understand this definition? Question can also mean a doubt about the truth of something. If your college professor tells you he has a question about the originality of your term paper, for example, it means you might be getting busted for plagiarism. The act of raising such a doubt is also "to question" something. Finally, a question can be something that depends on a particular condition: "Reading dictionaries is a question of interest and intellect." There's no question you have both, clearly.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

question questions questioned questioning

“We’re learning a ton from our Ukrainian partners,” Gen. Grynkewich said in an answer to a question.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

A question has bedeviled a wealthy Lake Tahoe enclave for years: Who is poisoning the towering trees that stand sentry on the lake’s North Shore?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

That question moves us from worry to action.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

Penman admitted it was a "mistake" not to question O'Brien's sister about her concerns that her brother held a "vendetta" against Cordina.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

She is asked to sign an oath of secrecy and loyalty, which she does, without question.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Across the industry, the Goliath accident led to a series of questions, with no immediate answers: Was the incident the result of a maintenance issue, a design flaw, or perhaps operator error?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

According to the trade group, the most commonly accepted use was writing cover letters or CVs, followed by completing online application questions.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Jefferies analyst Jeffrey Favuzza wrote in a Tuesday trading note that one of the biggest questions he has been getting from clients is “‘why the weakness in AI?’ across the board.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

With that, after just 15 minutes, Zacharia declared the briefing finished and walked out, pursued by the sound of reporters shouting unanswered questions.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

I’m deep in questions and confusion when Gabi breaks me out of my thoughts.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Users on X, where the "Rapid Response 47" account has 2.3 million followers, questioned the president's judgment, with one calling the post "sick."

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

A tweet went music-nerd viral a few weeks ago where somebody questioned R.E.M.’s cultural footprint in 2026.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

On the flight to the US, the FBI questioned Al-Marimi, performed a "head to toe medical examination" and provided him with clean clothes and blankets, his lawyers said.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Vance questioned whether the Pentagon would really livestream Nidal Hasan’s execution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

In particular, federal authority was questioned and tested west of the mountains from Canada to Spanish Florida.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

The proposed Russian diesel supplies were "not of any macroeconomic significance," he told AFP, also questioning whether Moscow could deliver the promised volumes.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Seven men have been taken in for questioning in relation to the incident and subsequently released on bail.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

"It's one thing to fund the freezing," she says, questioning whether clubs will also pay for their storage then the treatment needed to use them.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

“Now, investors are questioning whether that threshold has moved closer to 6%.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

Elliot and I both jumped guiltily, and she paused mid-bite to raise a questioning eyebrow at us.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• argument
• challenge
• confusion
• debate
• difficulty
• dispute
• mystery
• objection
• problem
• query
• uncertainty