quiz

American  

[kwiz] / kwɪz /

noun

plural

quizzes

1. an informal test or examination of a student or class.

2. a questioning.

3. a practical joke; a hoax.

4. Chiefly British. an eccentric, often odd-looking person.

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verb (used with object)

quizzed, quizzing

1. to examine or test (a student or class) informally by questions.

2. to question closely.

   The police quizzed several suspects.

3. Chiefly British. to make fun of; ridicule; mock; chaff.

quiz British  

/ kwɪz /

noun

1. 1. an entertainment in which the general or specific knowledge of the players is tested by a series of questions, esp as a radio or television programme

   2. ( as modifier )

      a quiz programme

2. any set of quick questions designed to test knowledge

3. an investigation by close questioning; interrogation

4. obsolete a practical joke; hoax

5. obsolete a puzzling or eccentric individual

6. obsolete a person who habitually looks quizzically at others, esp through a small monocle

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verb

1. to investigate by close questioning; interrogate

2. informal to test or examine the knowledge of (a student or class)

3. obsolete (tr) to look quizzically at, esp through a small monocle

Other Word Forms

• quizzable adjective
• quizzer noun
• unquizzable adjective
• unquizzed adjective

Etymology

Origin of quiz

1775–85 in sense “odd person”; 1840–50 quiz for def. 1; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Krivunecs has had to be innovative in trying to develop that "product" and generate interest - fantasy football, statistics, quizzes, predictions, full licensing on Football Manager.

From BBC

Test your memory of 2025 with our quiz of the year, try last week's quiz, or have a go at something from the archives.

From BBC

He will continue doing some work for the BBC away from news, including hosting quiz show University Challenge and the Radical podcast.

From BBC

The episode isn’t exactly an answer key to a current-events quiz.

From The Wall Street Journal

But he would probably be more of a tough quiz question than a household name: which title-winner won three England caps in three different seasons over a four-year period?

From BBC

Related Words

• grill
• inquire
• interrogate
• investigate
• query