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

The campaign did not answer a question about Cercy’s previous statements to other news outlets that Paxton “is a lawful, registered Texas voter in full compliance with the law.”

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

Recent high-profile museum heists beg the question: What can be done to ensure your personal collection doesn’t meet the same fate?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

The question now is whether it survive a 64-team World Cup that would see 128 matches played over a six-week period.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

The question is how big a priority it is for both the Senate majority leader and the White House.

From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026

Now there is a way to settle the question, Dr. Harlow explains.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

That outbreak has led to bigger questions about the U.S. health system’s ability to track and stamp out foodborne illnesses.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

Spokespeople for Trump Media and the White House didn’t respond to questions about the new service.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

Platner also faced questions from fellow progressives regarding the time he spent employed as a security contractor associated with the mercenary force Blackwater.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

"You don't get asked those questions in fashion," she says.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

I can see from the look on his face that Dad’s about to ask a million questions.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

She questioned how that initial data even got published, given that it was “obvious” the figures were wrong.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

When questioned on how some foreign nationals had been treated by anti-migrant protesters, Dube said March and March rejected "any form of violence - we reject any form of anti-law".

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

When Pounder questioned what she was doing, Saar explained: “This is going to be my last show after I’m gone. It’s called Fade.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Stock futures were mostly lower, with AI stocks selling off as investors questioned whether the dizzying trade that has powered markets this year has more room to run.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

The police questioned Paupardin, who said that the Mona Lisa’s suitor was quiet and inconspicuous.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

He criticised slow bureaucracy and a lack of flexibility, questioning whether Ukraine could defeat Russia with Syrsky in charge of the army.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

Helen said she faced hours of questioning after Griffiths' lies were exposed, something she found an ordeal.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

He went further, questioning whether the leadership had the will to deliver the stimulus it kept promising.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

As the collection makes clear, Aviv prefers restless questioning to closure or complacency.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Nurse Finnegan turns and gives him a questioning look.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

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