- present participle of question.
questioning
Americanadjective
-
indicating or implying a question.
a questioning tone in her voice.
-
characterized by or indicating intellectual curiosity; inquiring.
an alert and questioning mind.
noun
adjective
-
proceeding from or characterized by a feeling of doubt or uncertainty
-
enthusiastic or eager for philosophical or other investigations; intellectually stimulated
an alert and questioning mind
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of questioning
Explanation
Questioning is an appeal or demand for an answer, or for more information. Sometimes the police will bring a witness to a crime into the station for questioning. When you participate in questioning, you may very well have a questioning look on your face. As an adjective, questioning can mean "curious," "confused or perplexed," or even "skeptical." If you show up at school in a clown costume, your teachers and friends might look at you in a questioning way — or they may dive right into the questioning, demanding: "What on earth are you wearing?"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Munster also said that investors are questioning how much of an impact high gas prices had on Tesla’s deliveries.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
But after questioning by Hughes’s family lawyers, Dummar revealed he hadn’t only lied about not knowing about the will, he actually dropped the document off at the church’s headquarters.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Other justices dissented, questioning Cook’s property claim and the ruling’s broad scope, potentially inviting future challenges.
From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026
"I didn't have that and that made me start questioning it."
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
I’ve scarcely made it home and past Mom’s regular “how was your swim” line of questioning when she texts three times in a span of two minutes.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
