question mark

[kwes-chuhn mahrk]

noun

1. Also called interrogation point. Also called interrogation mark. a punctuation mark indicating a question: usually, as in English, the mark (?) placed after a question.

2. something unanswered or unknown.

   His identity is still a question mark to most of us.

3. an anglewing butterfly, Polygonia interrogationis, having a silver marking that resembles a question mark on the underside of each hindwing.

question mark

noun

1. the punctuation mark ? , used at the end of questions and in other contexts where doubt or ignorance is implied

2. this mark used for any other purpose, as to draw attention to a possible mistake, as in a chess commentary

3. an element of doubt or uncertainty

question mark

1. A punctuation mark (?) that follows a direct question: “Is Ralph really seven feet tall?”

Word History and Origins

Origin of question mark¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

"The question marks are probably the striker and maybe a centre-half," he suggested.

Read more on BBC

"There are question marks there, definitely, and there are cracks that England could potentially expose," he added.

Read more on BBC

"He's not being selected by Spurs, he's not being selected for Wales, so there's a big question mark on how you come back after that," Blake adds.

Read more on BBC

And there were other question marks all over the roster, with plenty for Mike Vrabel to fix in his first season coaching the franchise where he’d won multiple Super Bowls as a player.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"So I think there's a bit of a question mark on that too and maybe that'll give me some opportunities."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• conundrum 
• puzzle