question

Meaning

Noun

1. A worded or expressed sentence, phrase, or only a word on its own, which asks for information, a reply, or a response; an interrogative.
2. A subject or topic for consideration or investigation.
3. A doubt or challenge about the truth, accuracy, or validity of a matter.
4. A proposal to a meeting as a topic for deliberation.
5. (archaic, historical, with-definite-article) Interrogation by torture.
6. (obsolete) Talk; conversation; speech.

Verb

1. (transitive) To ask questions of; to interrogate; to ask for information.
2. (transitive) To raise doubts about; have doubts about.
3. (intransitive) To ask a question or questions; inquire or seek to know; examine.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To argue; to converse; to dispute.

Synonyms

ask

interrogate

inquire

query

inquiry

problem

doubt

interrogation

enquire

issue

enquiry

matter

investigate

examine

quiz

request

interrogative

dispute

interview

subject

demand

puzzle

distrust

contest

interrogatory

suspicion

interrogative sentence

wonder

call into question

riddle

point

grill

topic

challenge

trouble

suspect

petition

motion

scrutinize

case

ask a question

inquiring

study

uncertainty

scepticism

protest

search

accost

address

affair

appeal

argue

ask about

ask for

business

consult

cross-examine

do

doubtfulness

dubiousness

examination

explore

find out

guess

head

impugn

inspect

mark

object

oppugn

proposal

proposition

questioning

skepticism

sound

🔉

survey

inquire about

research

her

hesitate

point in dispute

infidelity

inform

display

discussion

discuss

inquisition

information

interpellate

interpellation

discover

disbelief

dilemma

difficulty

diction

interviewing

intro

detect

investigation

destitution

item

lay away

live

locus

poverty

deliberation

matters

moment

declare

enquire

objection

screening

order

parade

performance

period

debrief

plea

debate

poll

possibility

prayer

predict

presentation

press

counsel

production

prophesy

reason about

interrogative mood

prospect

conversation

pry

put a question

controvert

q

q

quandary

controversy

quest

public presentation

questionings

question mark

consider

rendering

rendition

representation

claim

require

requirement

characterisation

chance

🎲

scrimp

scrutinise

certain

show

side

disquisitional

something

query whether

speculate

spot

staging

strangeness

card

stuff

call

sure

point order

brain-teaser

bewilderment

talk

🗣️

tell

test

text

theme

thing

think about

ascertain

treat

article

argumentation

verify

visit

wish

argument

announce

find fault with

have doubts

inquire

stop

🛑

quaere

raree-show

enigma

economise

enquiring

dubiety

entreaty

essence

theatrical production

dot

queston regarding ritual purity

incomplete understanding

full stop

gist

go over

disputation

grow

consulting the oracle

inquire of

heading

Translations

question

❓

Frage

❓

pregunta

❓

interroger

❓

vraag

❓

interrogar

befragen

❓

demander

cuestión

Anfrage

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkwɛst͡ʃən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: question

Cognate with Middle Low German: quēstie

Cognate with Middle High German: questje

Inherited from Middle English: questionen

In summary

From Middle English question, questioun, questiun, from Anglo-Norman questiun, from Old French question, from Latin quaestiōnem, accusative of quaestiō (“a seeking, investigation, inquiry, question”), from quaerere (“to seek, ask, inquire”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”).
Partially displaced native Old English āscung. Compare also Middle Low German quēstie (“questioning; inquiry”), Middle High German questje (“question”).
Cognates include English quest.

Sentences

The boy mumbled an answer that allowed him to avoid responding to her question .