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

to question

570 1.0

To ask someone questions to get information

verb
/ˈkwɛsʧən/

: interrogar (formal)

During the interview, the journalist began to question the politician about his policies.
question students
questioned regarding

Our turn to invent, to question, to push forward.

Examples

Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said: "I am not questioning the integrity of genuine victims."

Academic text (2011)
Police questioned witnesses, but no suspects were detained.

Broken City (2013)
I need to question her.

Scared to Death (1980)
So we question him, not damage him.

Lethal Weapon (1987)
Mr. President, I'd like to question the witness if I may.

Paths of Glory (1957)
Afterwards, the police wanted to question Stephen, but he was out of it completely.

Fiction book (1990)
Why don't you question her again?

Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2024)
Well, if you know him then why don't you question him?

The Rock (1996)
More details came to light as the justices questioned the parties involved.

Academic text (2008)
His rigor transmitted itself to his students, as we learned to question apparently innocuous oversimplifications.

Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

to ask

vsto question

∞ 1.0

To request information or an answer from someone

is about using verbal prompts to obtain information or check knowledge

to interview

vsto question

862 2.7

Ask someone questions to get information, for example for a job

is the general act of using spoken prompts to get facts or test knowledge

to test

vsto question

469 1.0

To ask questions or give tasks to check someone's knowledge

is mainly about obtaining information by speaking, not formal evaluation

to interrogate

vsto question

Formal

142 6.5

To question someone carefully and formally to get information

is less forceful and may be casual, not necessarily investigative

to inquire

vsto question

Formal

107 3.0

To ask someone for information about something

is more general, covering any spoken prompts to get facts or test knowledge

to grill

vsto question

Informal

59 4.9

To question someone firmly to get information

is about asking for facts or testing knowledge without aggression

to examine

vsto question

Formal

53 3.1

To ask someone many questions in a formal way to find out facts

is looser and can include simple information or knowledge checks

to query

vsto question

18 3.7

To ask a person a question to show doubt or get information

is used to gain facts or assess knowledge rather than express doubt

to pump

vsto question

18 7.4

Ask someone many questions to get information

covers asking once or more for facts or knowledge without such persistence

to quiz

vsto question

16 2.3

To ask someone questions to see what they know

focuses on getting information or testing knowledge in general situations

to sound out

vsto question

2 4.4

Try to find out what someone thinks by asking indirect questions

is direct seeking of facts or testing, not indirect opinion finding

to shoot a question

vsto question

Informal

1 3.7

To ask a question quickly and directly

is the broader practice of using prompts to obtain information or test knowledge

Antonyms

to answer

∞ 1.0

To reply to a question or request

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

Phrasal Verbs

to call into question

33 4.5

To say that something may not be true or right

to pop the question

13 4.6

To ask someone to marry you

to shoot a question

Informal

1 3.7

To ask a question quickly and directly

to lob a question

Informal

6.5

To ask a casual question to start a conversation or break the ice

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 Intensely

to cross-examine

Formal

28 7.2

to interrogate

Formal

142 6.5

to grill

Informal

59 4.9

to question

570 1.0

to ask

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

question infinitive

questioned past

questioned past participle

questioning present participle

questions third person singular

Etymology

Question comes from the Latin verb quaerere 'to seek' and is like the word quest, which is a search; to question someone is to ask them for information or test their knowledge. So the verb means to ask people questions.