question

[ kwes-chuhn ]

/ ˈkwɛs tʃən /

noun

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

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

a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed by of): It was simply a question of time.

a subject of dispute or controversy.

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

the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.

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

Law.

a controversy that is submitted to a judicial tribunal or administrative agency for decision.
the interrogation by which information is secured.
Obsolete. judicial examination or trial.

the act of asking or inquiring; interrogation; query.

inquiry into or discussion of some problem or doubtful matter.

verb (used with object)

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

to ask or inquire.

to make a question of; doubt: He questioned her sincerity.

to challenge or dispute: She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

verb (used without object)

to ask a question or questions.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Here is our second set of teacher-selected PSAT vocabulary words. Do you know the meanings of these terms?

Question 1 of 10

advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for question

beg the question. beg¹(def 9).

beyond question, beyond dispute; without doubt: It was, beyond question, a magnificent performance.Also beyond all question.

call in/into question,

to dispute; challenge.
to cast doubt upon; question: This report calls into question all previous research on the subject.

in question,

under consideration.
in dispute.

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.

Origin of question

1250–1300; (noun) Middle English questio(u)n, questiun < Anglo-French questiun, Middle French question < Latin quaestiōn- (stem of quaestiō), equivalent to quaes-, stem of quaerere to ask + -tiōn- -tion; (v.) late Middle English < Middle French questioner, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR question

1 inquiry, query, interrogation.

11 query, examine.

12 See inquire.

ANTONYMS FOR question

1, 11 answer, reply.

Words nearby question

querétaro, ques., quesadilla, quesnay, quest, question, question mark, question master, question of fact, question of law, question period

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for sub-questions

The usual test of teacher and student is still the traditional examination, with its many questions and sub-questions.
College Teaching|Paul Klapper

British Dictionary definitions for sub-questions

question

/ (ˈkwɛstʃən) /

noun

a form of words addressed to a person in order to elicit information or evoke a response; interrogative sentence

a point at issueit's only a question of time until she dies; the question is how long they can keep up the pressure

a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful pointa question of money; there's no question about it

an act of asking
an investigation into some problem or difficulty

a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body

put the question to require members of a deliberative assembly to vote on a motion presented

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

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

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

beg the question

to avoid giving a direct answer by posing another question
to assume the truth of that which is intended to be provedSee petitio principii

beyond (all) question beyond (any) dispute or doubt

call in or into question

to make (something) the subject of disagreement
to cast doubt upon the validity, truth, etc, of (something)

in question under discussionthis is the man in question

out of the question beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossiblethe marriage is out of the question

pop the question informal to propose marriage

verb (mainly tr)

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

to make (something) the subject of dispute or disagreement

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

Derived forms of question

questioner, noun

Word Origin for question

C13: via Old French from Latin quaestiō, from quaerere to seek

usage for question

The question whether should be used rather than the question of whether or the question as to whether: this leaves open the question whether he acted correctly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with sub-questions

question

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.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

question

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Idioms for question

Origin of question

SYNONYMS FOR question

ANTONYMS FOR question

OTHER WORDS FROM question

Words nearby question

Example sentences from the Web for sub-questions

British Dictionary definitions for sub-questions

noun

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of question

Word Origin for question

usage for question

Idioms and Phrases with sub-questions