1
question
/ˈkwɛstʃən/
noun
plural
questions
plural
questions
Britannica Dictionary definition of QUESTION
1
[count]
:
a sentence, phrase, or word that asks for information or is used to test someone's knowledge
-
Can I ask you a personal question?
-
Please answer my question.
-
I don't understand the question.
-
Are there any more questions?
-
I have a couple of legal questions (for you).
-
In answer to your question, our next meeting will be on Friday.
-
The essay questions on the test were easy/hard.
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There are 10 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
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The exam included several questions on/about current events.
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The question arose as to who would be responsible for caring for our grandmother.
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I expected him to ask where I worked, but the question never came up.
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I am sure to get a raise. The question is [=what I want to know is], how much it will be?
-
The key question in solving the mystery is, how did the murderer enter the house?
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One question still remains: Do we have the funding for this project?
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(formal) She posed the question of [=she asked] whether we could get funding for the project.
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Stop avoiding the question and answer me!
-
She hoped to avoid awkward/embarrassing questions about her personal life during the interview.
-
Whether voters will support him remains an open question. [=no one knows yet whether voters will support him]
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There are still many unanswered questions about his past.
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It was a rhetorical question. I didn't expect an answer.
-
“How can we reduce expenses without cutting important programs?” “(That's a) good question.” [=I don't know]
-
The big question [=the thing everyone would like to know] is, will he be number one in the football draft?
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There will be a question and answer session [=a period of time when people can have their questions answered] following the speech.
-
(formal) The lawyer would like to put another question to the defendant. [=ask the defendant another question]
—
see also leading question
2
[count]
:
a matter or problem that is being discussed
:
a subject or topic
—
often + of
3
[noncount]
a
:
doubt or uncertainty about something
—
often used in negative statements
-
There is no question but that there will be some protest about his decision.
-
There was no question of/about his loyalty.
-
There is no question that he was one of the greatest players of the game.
-
There's no question about it —that girl has talent!
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Without question, it was his best performance by far. [=it was definitely his best performance ever]
-
She trusted him without question.
b
:
a state of doubt or uncertainty
-
The results of the study have come into question. = The results of the study have been called into question. [=people are expressing doubts about the results]
-
The fact that he plagiarized throws/brings/calls into question the authenticity of his earlier writings.
4
[noncount]
:
the possibility or chance of something happening or of someone doing something
—
used in negative statements
a question of
—
used to say that one thing results from or requires another
-
“I can't go!” “If it's just a question of money [=if money is the only problem], I can let you borrow some.”
-
It's only a question of time [=a matter of time] before/until we catch him.
-
Is success all just a question of being in the right place at the right time?
beg the question
—
see beg
beyond question
1
:
completely certain or definite
2
:
in a way that is completely certain
:
without any doubt
in question
1
—
used to indicate the specific thing that is being discussed or referred to
-
The painting in question is by Rembrandt.
-
What is in question is not the candidate's private life but her policies.
-
Where were you on the Sunday in question?
2
:
in a state of doubt or uncertainty
out of the question
:
not possible or allowed
pop the question
—
see 1pop
2
question
/ˈkwɛstʃən/
verb
questions;
questioned;
questioning
2
question
/ˈkwɛstʃən/
verb
questions;
questioned;
questioning
Britannica Dictionary definition of QUESTION
[+ object]
1
:
to ask (someone) questions about something
-
The reporter questioned her at length on her life as the First Lady.
-
The witness was questioned by the defense.
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Police questioned [=interrogated] the suspect carefully.
—
often + about
2
:
to have or express doubt about (something)
-
I could tell that she was questioning my decision.
-
He began to question his ability to do the job.
-
I trusted him and I never questioned what he told me.
-
The lawyer questioned the truth of the witness's statement.
-
He began to question whether the things she had said were really true.
— questioner
noun,
plural
questioners
[count]