51Թ

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View synonyms for

question

[kwes-chuhn]

noun

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

    Synonyms: , ,
    Antonyms: ,
  2. a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.

  3. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed byof ).

    It was simply a question of time.

  4. a subject of dispute or controversy.

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

  6. the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.

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

  8. Law.

    1. a controversy that is submitted to a judicial tribunal or administrative agency for decision.

    2. the interrogation by which information is secured.

    3. Obsolete.judicial examination or trial.

  9. the act of asking or inquiring; interrogation; query.

  10. inquiry into or discussion of some problem or doubtful matter.



verb (used with object)

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

    Synonyms: ,
    Antonyms: ,
  2. to ask or inquire.

  3. to make a question of; doubt.

    He questioned her sincerity.

  4. to challenge or dispute.

    She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

verb (used without object)

  1. to ask a question or questions.

question

/ ˈɛʃə /

noun

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

  2. a point at issue

    it's only a question of time until she dies

    the question is how long they can keep up the pressure

  3. a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point

    a question of money

    there's no question about it

    1. an act of asking

    2. an investigation into some problem or difficulty

  4. a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body

  5. to require members of a deliberative assembly to vote on a motion presented

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

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

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

    1. to avoid giving a direct answer by posing another question

    2. to assume the truth of that which is intended to be proved See petitio principii

  9. beyond (any) dispute or doubt

    1. to make (something) the subject of disagreement

    2. to cast doubt upon the validity, truth, etc, of (something)

  10. under discussion

    this is the man in question

  11. beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossible

    the marriage is out of the question

  12. informalto propose marriage

“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

verb

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

  2. to make (something) the subject of dispute or disagreement

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

“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
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Usage

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
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • questioner noun
  • counterquestion noun
  • outquestion verb (used with object)
  • prequestion verb (used with object)
  • requestion verb (used with object)
  • subquestion noun
  • ˈܱپDzԱ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of question1

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English questio(u)n, questiun, from Anglo-French questiun, Middle French question, from Latin ܲپō- (stem of ܲپō ), equivalent to quaes-, stem of quaerere “to ask” + -پō- -tion; (verb) late Middle English, from Middle French questioner, derivative of the noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of question1

C13: via Old French from Latin ܲپō, from quaerere to seek
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in question,

    1. under consideration.

    2. in dispute.

  2. call in / into question,

    1. to dispute; challenge.

    2. to cast doubt upon; question.

      This report calls into question all previous research on the subject.

  3. 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.

  4. beg the question. beg.

  5. beyond question, beyond dispute; without doubt: Also beyond all question

    It was, beyond question, a magnificent performance.

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Synonym Study

See inquire.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

This conflict may be less than 48 hours old - but it's a question much of the world is now asking.

From

Ms Donnelly said even people who had lived in Northern Ireland for a long time had an "overwhelming sense of sadness and disgust at what is happening and are really questioning staying here".

From

Song resists the urge to follow a formula, forging questions about love and romance that can’t all be answered by the time the credits roll.

From

She claimed it was from an accident in the kitchen, but her cowering posture, downcast eyes and hesitant responses to basic questions suggested there was more to her visit than she was letting on.

From

The title of your book poses a question: Can deliberation cure the ills of democracy?

From

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When To Use

Spelling tips forquestion

The word question is hard to spell because it sounds like it might begin with a kw, rather than a qu, as in kwestionHow to spell question: When you ask a question you are on a quest for information. This can help you remember that question begins with qu- rather than kw-. You simply add quest to the common suffix -ion and you have the correct spelling of question.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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