❓ A request for information ❓ To doubt ⚖️ A topic for debate 🤔 A doubt 🗣️ To ask 🗳️ A formal proposal 💍 A marriage proposal

question

∞ 1.0

A sentence or phrase used to ask for information

noun
/ˈkwɛs.tʃən/

: pregunta

May I ask you a question?
answer questions
ask questions
research questions

I'm not sure how to answer that question there.

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Examples

Why are you asking me questions about an eight-year-old case?

Joey & Rex Save the Church (2022)
So do we have a question from the audience?
So I have a couple other questions here very quick.
We could answer the question in one day.
So all right, first question is where did we meet?
I'm just asking you a simple question.

He's Watching (2022)
So let me ask the basic question, what is IXC?
Many interviews will begin with the same types of questions listed earlier as preliminary interview questions.

Academic text (2015)
All right, Josh, our first question is from Nils.
During the meeting, she raised an important question about the project's timeline.

Synonyms

inquiry

vsquestion

245 3.9

An act of asking questions to get information

is usually shorter and simpler, a single sentence phrase or gesture

query

vsquestion

35 3.7

A question asked to a person or organization for information

is more general and ordinary, used when seeking information in any way

interrogative

vsquestion

Specialized

1 6.8

A word or sentence that asks a question

is the common spoken, written, or gestured way to seek information or test knowledge

interrogative sentence

vsquestion

Specialized

3.4

A sentence that asks a question and waits for an answer

is broader covering phrases gestures or tests as well as sentences

Antonyms

answer

∞ 1.0

A spoken, written, or shown reply to a question

statement

Formal

∞ 1.3

A clear report given in speech or writing, often to officials

Idioms

in question

150 5.8

Not certain because people doubt or suspect it

out of the question

56 2.7

Not possible or allowed to do

calling into question

1 5.5

Showing doubt about whether something is true or reliable

Compounds

rhetorical question

22 4.6

A question people ask to make a point, not to get an answer

trick question

18 5.3

A question that tries to confuse you with a surprising answer

question mark

15 1.0

A mark placed at the end of a sentence to show it is a question

burning question

Informal

11 3.5

An urgent question that needs a quick answer

ethical question

10 4.6

A question about what is right or wrong in a situation

million-dollar question

Informal

10 5.0

Something very important that everyone wants answered

leading question

Jargon

7 5.2

A question that suggests an answer to make someone give it

common question

6 1.2

A question many people ask

question time

2 4.4

A time in parliament when members ask government ministers questions

question of fact

Formal

2 6.7

An issue about what really happened for a jury or judge to decide

question of law

Formal

1 7.7

A matter a judge decides about how to understand a law

previous question

Formal

1 8.9

A formal request to end debate and vote now

question sheet

1 2.3

A paper that has the questions for a test or exam

yes-no question

1 2.2

A question you can answer with yes or no

kitbag question

9.9

A simple, unexpected question that surprises people and shows gaps

question master

4.8

A person who asks people for answers and runs a quiz show on radio or TV

quick-fire question

5.0

A question that follows another to get fast answers

How Formal

interrogation

Formal

236 5.1

inquiry

245 3.9

query

Specialized

36 4.4

question

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

question singular

questions plural

Morphology

question = quest (semi-transparent) = quest + ion

Structurally the word can be seen as 'quest' + '-ion', but this is a loanword formation and modern 'quest' (an adventurous search) differs in sense from 'question' (an act of asking), so learners may not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Question comes from the Latin verb quaerere 'to seek' and is like the word quest, which means a search. So a question is a search for information or an answer.