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

question

29 6.1

A formal proposal in a meeting that members vote on

noun
/ˈkwɛsʧən/

Informal

: moción

Charles V: This assembly has only two questions for you, Martin Luther.
put the question

Examples

John King asked a question of Mitt Romney.
The committee raised a question regarding the new policy before voting on it.
The question is on the motion.

Medium Cool (1969)
At trial, there were two legal questions for the Appeals court to answer.
The tribal council sent the question to a referendum, and stock reduction was approved.

Academic text (1994)
Through a referendum, the Oregon legislature will put the question to voters again in November 1997.

Academic text (1997)
And the next question is from Lindsay Watkins.
Judge Meyerson disposes of the first question very briefly.
During the meeting, a significant question about the budget was put forward for discussion.
The senator introduced a question aimed at reforming health care during the legislative session.

Synonyms

proposal

vsquestion

837 2.9

A plan or suggestion put forward for others to consider

is focused on formal actions in meetings meant for debate and voting

suggestion

vsquestion

602 1.4

An idea or plan offered for others to consider

is reserved for formal actions in assemblies that need debate and a vote

motion

vsquestion

Formal

269 5.5

A suggestion in a meeting that people vote on

is the same but used specifically in deliberative assemblies rather than any meeting

Idioms

in question

202 5.8

Not certain because people doubt or suspect it

out of the question

79 2.7

Not possible or allowed to do

calling into question

2 5.5

Showing doubt about whether something is true or reliable

Compounds

question mark

56 1.0

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

rhetorical question

25 4.6

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

trick question

22 5.3

A question that tries to confuse you with a surprising answer

ethical question

13 4.6

A question about what is right or wrong in a situation

burning question

Informal

13 3.5

An urgent question that needs a quick answer

million-dollar question

Informal

11 5.0

Something very important that everyone wants answered

yes-no question

11 2.2

A question you can answer with yes or no

common question

10 1.2

A question many people ask

leading question

Jargon

8 5.2

A question that suggests an answer to make someone give it

question time

5 4.4

A time in parliament when members ask government ministers questions

question of law

Formal

3 7.7

A matter a judge decides about how to understand a law

question of fact

Formal

2 6.7

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

question sheet

1 2.3

A paper that has the questions for a test or exam

previous question

Formal

1 8.9

A formal request to end debate and vote now

question master

1 4.8

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

quick-fire question

1 5.0

A question that follows another to get fast answers

kitbag question

9.9

A simple, unexpected question that surprises people and shows gaps

How Formal

bill

∞ 4.1

question

Informal

29 6.1

motion

Formal

269 5.5

proposal

837 2.9

suggestion

602 1.4

Surface Forms

question singular

questions plural

Morphology

question = quest (opaque) = quest + ion

The parliamentary/legal sense ('a formal proposal to be discussed and voted on') is a specialized institutional meaning that learners are unlikely to derive from 'quest' + '-ion'.

Etymology

Question comes from the Latin verb quaerere 'to seek' and was used for matters put forward for decision in meetings; to 'put the question' is to bring an item up for a vote. So here question means a formal proposal to be discussed and decided.