question
/ˈkwɛstʃ(ə)n
/noun
1A sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information: we hope this leaflet has been helpful in answering your questions...
- Curiously, you might not actually perceive this as a question designed to elicit information.
- She lets Chomsky answer these tough questions in his own words.
- Organisers of both courses will be there on the evening to provide information and answer questions.
Synonyms
enquiry, query;
interrogation, examination
British informal quiz, quizzing
1.1A doubt about the truth or validity of something: there’s no question that the company’s true financial situation is different...
- It was the seventh time Harrington had finished second that season and naturally his mind screamed with questions and doubts.
- For some the confidence of adolescence is replaced with questions and doubt, marking the transition to adulthood.
- There are also some questions over the validity of the Lancet study in the case of measuring casualties in Iraq.
Synonyms
doubt, dispute, argument, debate, uncertainty, dubiousness, controversy, reservation
rare dubiety
1.2 [mass noun] The raising of a doubt about or objection to something: Edward was the only one she obeyed without question her loyalty is really beyond question...
- Throughout her career, her commitment was never in doubt and her courage beyond question.
- The compilations always, without question, included his preamble to the track and his following comments.
- The medical benefits of research on primates are beyond question.
Synonyms
undoubted, beyond doubt, without doubt, certain, indubitable, indisputable, irrefutable, incontestable, incontrovertible, unquestionable, undeniable, unmistakable, clear, patent, manifest, obvious, palpable
indisputably, irrefutably, incontestably, incontrovertibly, unquestionably, undeniably, undoubtedly, beyond doubt, without doubt, certainly, indubitably, unmistakably, clearly, patently, manifestly, obviously, palpably
2A matter requiring resolution or discussion: the question of local government funding worried ministers...
- That is why the political questions we are discussing today are so significant.
- He asked for subsequent parish council meetings to discuss the question of lack of support from Bradford Council.
- One of them was an article authored by Mahatma Gandhi, discussing the minority question.
2.1A matter or concern depending on or involving a specified condition or thing: it was not simply a question of age and hierarchy...
- All songs have meaning to someone, it's more a question of subject matter.
- Colin Davey, a member of the Bradford team, said it was a question of educating businesses about the tax system.
- That has to be a question of opinion rather than fact, so it depends on what you make of the evidence.
Synonyms
issue, matter, business, problem, point at issue, point, concern, subject, topic, theme, item, case, proposal, proposition, debate, argument, dispute, bone of contention, controversy
verb [with object]
1Ask (someone) questions, especially in an official context: four men were being questioned about the killings (as noun questioning) the young lieutenant escorted us to the barracks for questioning...
- Then they were stopping, searching and questioning people as they came through.
- Although a number of people were questioned under caution, no-one was ever charged.
- Hammer was arrested on Sunday night after six people were questioned at a house near the crime scene.
Synonyms
interrogate, ask questions of, put questions to, cross-examine, cross-question, quiz, probe, canvass, catechize, interview, debrief, sound out, examine, give the third degree to
informal grill, pump
1.1Feel or express doubt about; raise objections to: members had questioned the cost of the scheme...
- No matter what our build we always have doubts; we always question our desirability and self-worth.
- If a battle did not succeed, its execution, not its objectives, were questioned.
- If you question the cost; a local agency told us we should focus on the child and somehow raise the money.
Synonyms
query, call in/into question, doubt, raise/entertain doubts about, throw doubt on, have/harbour/express suspicions about, suspect, feel uneasy about, have/harbour/express reservations about, challenge, dispute, cast aspersions on, object to, raise objections to
Phrases
be a question of time
bring something into question
come into question
good question
in question
no question of
out of the question
put the question
Derivatives
questioningly
/ adverb ...- After a few more uptempo hits Joe turned questioningly to one of his musicians, shrugging slightly.
- At the door I look back at him and he responds by raising his eyebrows questioningly at me.
- He moved over and stood next to the bench, looking at me questioningly, as if to ask my permission to sit down.
questionless
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French question (noun), questionner (verb), from Latin quaestio(n-), from quaerere 'ask, seek'.
This comes via Old French from Latin quaerere ‘ask, seek’. Also from quaerere are query (mid 17th century) an anglicized form of the Latin quaere, ‘Ask!’ used in the 16th century in English as a verb in the sense ‘enquire’; quest (Late Middle English); and inquest.