Link Centre Dictionary

question

ques·tion

UK/ˈkwɛs.tʃən/ US/ˈkwɛs.tjən/ very common
noun (6) verb (5)

noun

1.

an instance of questioning

  • “there was a question about my training”
  • “we made inquiries of all those who were present”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

the subject matter at issue

  • “the question of disease merits serious discussion”
  • “under the head of minor Roman poets”
Synonyms
3.

a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply

  • “he asked a direct question”
  • “he had trouble phrasing his interrogations”
Synonyms
4.

uncertainty about the truth or factuality of existence of something

  • “the dubiousness of his claim”
  • “there is no question about the validity of the enterprise”
Synonyms
5.

a formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote

  • “he made a motion to adjourn”
  • “she called for the question”
Synonyms
6.

an informal reference to a marriage proposal

  • “he was ready to pop the question”

verb

1.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

  • “We must question your judgment in this matter”
Synonyms
2.

pose a series of questions to

  • “The suspect was questioned by the police”
  • “We questioned the survivor about the details of the explosion”
Synonyms
3.

pose a question

Synonyms
4.
5.

place in doubt or express doubtful speculation

  • “I wonder whether this was the right thing to do”
  • “she wondered whether it would snow tonight”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English questioun, 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”). Doublet of quest. Partially displaced native Old English āscung, whence asking. Compare also Middle Low German quēstie (“questioning; inquiry”), Middle High German questje (“question”).

Phrases

  • $1,000,000 question
  • a question of
  • academic question
  • Adriatic Question
  • Armenian Question
  • ask a stupid question
  • ask the question
  • question the question

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.