Definitions for question
ˈkwɛs tʃənques·tion

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. question, inquiry, enquiry, query, interrogationnoun

   an instance of questioning

   "there was a question about my training"; "we made inquiries of all those who were present"

2. question, headnoun

   the subject matter at issue

   "the question of disease merits serious discussion"; "under the head of minor Roman poets"

3. question, interrogation, interrogative, interrogative sentencenoun

   a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply

   "he asked a direct question"; "he had trouble phrasing his interrogations"

4. doubt, dubiousness, doubtfulness, questionnoun

   uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something

   "the dubiousness of his claim"; "there is no question about the validity of the enterprise"

5. motion, questionnoun

   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"

6. questionverb

   an informal reference to a marriage proposal

   "he was ready to pop the question"

7. question, oppugn, call into questionverb

   challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

   "We must question your judgment in this matter"

8. interrogate, questionverb

   pose a series of questions to

   "The suspect was questioned by the police"; "We questioned the survivor about the details of the explosion"

9. question, queryverb

   pose a question

10. interview, questionverb

    conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

11. wonder, questionverb

    place in doubt or express doubtful speculation

    "I wonder whether this was the right thing to do"; "she wondered whether it would snow tonight"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.3 / 4 votes

1. questionnoun

   A sentence, phrase or word which asks for information, reply or response; an interrogative.

   What is your question?

2. questionnoun

   A subject or topic for consideration or investigation.

   The question of seniority will be discussed at the meeting.

3. questionnoun

   An unknown.

   There was a question of which material to use.

4. questionnoun

   A doubt or challenge about the truth or accuracy of a matter.

   His claim to the property has come under question.

5. questionnoun

   A proposal to a meeting as a topic for deliberation.

   I move that the question be put to a vote.

6. questionverb

   To ask questions of; interrogate; enquire; ask for information.

7. questionverb

   To raise doubts about; have doubts about.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. QUESTIONnoun

   Etymology: question, Fr. quæstio, Latin.

   1. Interrogatory; any thing enquired.

   Because he that knoweth least is fittest to ask questions, it is more reason for the entertainment of the time, that ye ask me questions, than that I ask you. Francis Bacon.

   2. Enquiry; disquisition.

   It is to be put to question, whether it be lawful for christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith. Francis Bacon, Holy War.

   3. A dispute; a subject of debate.

   There arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. Jo. iii. 25.

   4. Affair to be examined.

   In points of honour to be try’d,
   Suppose the question not your own. Jonathan Swift.

   5. Doubt; controversy; dispute.

   This is not my writing,
   Though I confess much like the character:
   But out of question ’tis Maria’s hand. William Shakespeare.

   ’Tis time for him to shew himself, when his very being is called in question, and to come and judge the world, when men begin to doubt whether he made it. John Tillotson.

   The doubt of their being native impressions on the mind, is stronger against these moral principles than the other; not that it brings their truth at all in question. John Locke.

   Our own earth would be barren and desolate, without the benign influence of the solar rays, which without question is true of all the other planets. Richard Bentley.

   6. Judicial trial.

   But whosoever be found guilty, the communion book hath surely deserved least to be called in question for this fault. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 31.

   7. Examination by torture.

   Such a presumption is only sufficient to put the person to the rack or question, according to the civil law, and not bring him to condemnation. John Ayliffe, Parergon.

   8. State of being the subject of present enquiry.

   If we being defendants do answer, that the ceremonies in question are godly, comely, decent, profitable for the church, their reply is childish and unorderly to say, that we demand the thing in question, and shew the poverty of our cause, the goodness whereof we are fain to beg that our adversaries would grant. Richard Hooker, b. iv. s. 4.

   If he had said, it would purchase six shillings and three-pence weighty money, he had proved the matter in question. John Locke.

   Nor are these assertions that dropped from their pens by chance, but delivered by them in places where they profess to state the points in question. Francis Atterbury, Preface.

   9. Endeavour; search. Not in use.

   As it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
   So may he with more facile question bear it;
   For that it stands not in such warlike brace,
   But altogether lacks the abilities
   That Rhodes is dress’d in. William Shakespeare.

2. To Questionverb

   Etymology: questionner, Fr.

   1. To examine one by questions.

   Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
   Be now the father, and propose a son;
   Hear your own dignity so much prophan’d;
   And then imagine me taking your part,
   And in your pow’r so silencing your son. William Shakespeare.

   But hark you, Kate,
   I must not have you henceforth question me,
   Whither I go. William Shakespeare, Henry IV, p. i.

   This construction is not so undubitably to be received, as not at all to be questioned. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours.

   2. To doubt; to be uncertain of.

   O impotent estate of human life!
   Where fleeting joy does lasting doubt inspire,
   And most we question what we most desire. Matthew Prior.

   3. To have no confidence in; to mention as not to be trusted.

   Be a design never so artificially laid, if it chances to be defeated by some cross accident, the man is then run down, his counsels derided, his prudence questioned, and his person despised. Robert South, Sermons.

3. To Questionverb

   Etymology: from the noun.

   1. To enquire.

   Suddenly out of this delightful dream
   The man awoke, and would have question’d more;
   But he would not endure the woful theme. Edmund Spenser.

   He that questioneth much shall learn much, and content much; but especially if he apply his questions to the skill of the persons whom he asketh. Francis Bacon, Essays.

   2. To debate by interrogatories.

   I pray you think you question with a Jew;
   You may as well use question with the wolf,
   Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb. William Shakespeare.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Question

   There are these four ways of answering questions. Which four? There are questions that should be answered categorically [straightforwardly yes, no, this, that]. There are questions that should be answered with an analytical (qualified) answer [defining or redefining the terms]. There are questions that should be answered with a counter-question. There are questions that should be put aside. These are the four ways of answering questions. A question is an utterance which typically functions as a request for information, which is expected to be provided in the form of an answer. Questions can thus be understood as a kind of illocutionary act in the field of pragmatics or as special kinds of propositions in frameworks of formal semantics such as alternative semantics or inquisitive semantics. Questions are often conflated with interrogatives, which are the grammatical forms typically used to achieve them. Rhetorical questions, for example, are interrogative in form but may not be considered true questions as they aren't expected to be answered. Conversely, non-interrogative grammatical structures may be considered questions as in the case of the imperative sentence "tell me your name."

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. question

   A question is an inquiry or request for information, usually expressed in the form of a sentence, phrase, or symbol, that seeks to elicit knowledge, clarification, or understanding about a specific topic or subject. It typically involves seeking an answer or response from someone who possesses the desired information or expertise. Questions can be used to gather information, facilitate conversation, stimulate critical thinking or problem-solving, or express curiosity.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Questionnoun

   the act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine by question and answer

2. Questionnoun

   discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without question

3. Questionnoun

   examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically, a judicial or official investigation; also, examination under torture

4. Questionnoun

   that which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query

5. Questionnoun

   hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate; theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a delicate or doubtful question

6. Questionnoun

   talk; conversation; speech; speech

7. Questionnoun

   to ask questions; to inquire

8. Questionnoun

   to argue; to converse; to dispute

9. Questionverb

   to inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness

10. Questionverb

    to doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query

11. Questionverb

    to raise a question about; to call in question; to make objection to

12. Questionverb

    to talk to; to converse with

13. Etymology: [Cf. F. questionner. See Question, n.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Question

   A question is a linguistic expression used to make a request for information, or the request made using such an expression. The information requested may be provided in the form of an answer. Questions have developed a range of uses that go beyond the simple eliciting of information from another party. Rhetorical questions, for example, are used to make a point, and are not expected to be answered. Many languages have special grammatical forms for questions. However questions can also be asked without using these interrogative grammatical structures – for example one may use an imperative, as in "Tell me your name". For detailed information about the grammar of question formation, see Interrogative, and for English specifically, English grammar: Questions.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:1.5 / 2 votes

1. Question

   kwest′yun, n. a seeking: an inquiry: an examination, esp. by torture: an investigation: dispute: doubt: a subject of discussion, esp. the particular point actually before the house, the measure to be voted upon: (Shak.) conversation.—v.t. to ask questions of: to examine by questions: to inquire of: to regard as doubtful: to challenge, take exception to: to have no confidence in.—v.i. to ask questions: to inquire: to debate, consider, to converse.—adj. Quest′ionable, that may be questioned: doubtful: uncertain: suspicious.—n. Quest′ionableness.—adv. Quest′ionably.—adj. Quest′ionary, asking questions.—n. one who hawks about for sale indulgences or relics.—ns. Quest′ioner; Quest′ioning, a query, doubt, suspicion.—adv. Quest′ioningly.—n. Quest′ionist, a questioner, a doubter: at Cambridge, a student qualified to be a candidate for a degree.—adj. Quest′ionless, unquestioning: beyond question or doubt: certainly.—n. Quest′rist (Shak.), a seeker, a pursuer.—adj. Quest′uary (obs.), greedy of gain, yielding gain.—Question of fact, consideration as to the actual occurrence of an event.—Beg the question (see Beg); Call in question, to challenge, to subject to judicial inquiry; In question, under consideration, referring to a thing just mentioned; Leading-question (see Lead); Out of question, doubtless; Out of the question, not to be thought of; Pop the question (see Pop); Previous question (see Previous). [Fr.,—L. quæstion-em—quærĕre, quæsitum, to seek.]

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon WurdzRate this definition:1.5 / 2 votes

1. QUESTION

   Is marriage a failure?

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. question

   To inquire to learn.

   She explained to her manager that she only did ask a question to learn.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on February 20, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. question

   Song lyrics by question -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by question on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Ask
   • Converse
   • Proposal
   • Questioning
   • Speculate
   • Subject
   • Uncertainty

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'question' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #394

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'question' in Written Corpus Frequency: #315

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'question' in Nouns Frequency: #45

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'question' in Verbs Frequency: #473

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce question?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say question in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of question in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of question in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of question in a Sentence

1. Mohamed Said Ould Salek:

   Morocco wants to clear the table, erase it all and have nothing to do with the mission. They want to show the question of the referendum is done and doesn't exist, when Morocco expels civilian staff it puts the ceasefire at risk, because the ceasefire and the referendum are two inseparable twins. You kill one and you kill the other.

2. Pedro Faria:

   The financial sector seems to be identifying more risks than the real economy, this raises the question: who is managing these risks?

3. Tony Nunan:

   We still have the big question mark over Iran. This month is the crunch time for P5+1 talks.

4. House Republicans:

   The policies he endorsed were not standard liberal ideas, but reflected the fact that the far-left is now in control of the Democratic Party and they are committed to forcing through their plans to empower the federal government at the expense of the American people, look, the fundamental question is ‘Do you want to live in a world, and do you want your kids to grow up in a world, where the United States sets the rules of the road basically with our allies who believe in freedom, or do you want to live in a world that's controlled by a global surveillance state?'.

5. John Seago:

   This question about abortion inducing-drugs is really kind of the next phase of the fight over abortion.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=question
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Question
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=question
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Question
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/question
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=question
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=question
9. ^ The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1989/pg1989-images.html#:~:text=question
10. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=question