question 1 of 2

noun

ˈkwes-chən How to pronounce question (audio)
Definition of questionnext
1
as in problem
an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge because I have missed so many classes, I had a hard time answering every question on today's surprise quiz

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in request
an act or instance of asking for information after reading the brief statement to the reporters, the lawyer ended the press conference by saying, "No more questions, please" the dozens of questions researched by the reference librarians

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent that these measurements are accurate is beyond question

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in topic
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) it's a question of personal responsibility

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

question

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to challenge
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of the teenager openly questioned the authority of the town's police force to impose a curfew on residents under the age of 18

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2
as in to debate
to give serious and careful thought to question your motives before you file the lawsuit: do you really care about the trees, or are you just trying to harass the neighbors?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to doubt
to have no trust or confidence in it was apparent that voters were questioning the President's ability to manage the economy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to ask
to put a question or questions to the press should be allowed to question public officials about any matter of general interest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to examine
to put a series of questions to the police questioned the suspect before deciding that there was insufficient evidence to hold him

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb question contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of question are ask, inquire, interrogate, and query. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

When can ask be used instead of question?

Although the words ask and question have much in common, ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

In what contexts can inquire take the place of question?

While in some cases nearly identical to question, inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

When could interrogate be used to replace question?

The meanings of interrogate and question largely overlap; however, interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

When would query be a good substitute for question?

In some situations, the words query and question are roughly equivalent. However, query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of question
Noun
Beckett is perennially timely because his works concern themselves with those eternal questions that the political emergencies of the day cannot override. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025 Within the Laid Off community, she’s seen more people asking questions about how to pivot into a new career, take on new side projects and part-time jobs, monetize side hustles or start something new altogether. —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
The calls for Schumer to step down from Senate leadership come as the Democratic Party was fractured over the bill, leading some to question Schumer’s ability to continue at the helm of his caucus. —Zach Lachance, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Mar. 2025 At various times in the country’s history, efforts to question the effects of such an ethos have invariably been co-opted by those wishing to defend the accumulation of wealth. —Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for question
Recent Examples of Synonyms for question
  1. problem
  2. request
  3. objection
  4. topic
  5. challenge
  6. debate
  7. doubt
  8. ask
Noun
  • The problem for City on the day, and in several games this season, was that there was no end product after the dribbles.
    — Sam Lee, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Solving the problem of pediatric boarding will require efforts on many fronts.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of problem
Noun
  • Newsmax did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.
    — Zoë Richards, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Neither the dealership nor its parent company, Lithia Motors, responded to requests for comment.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of request
Noun
  • The Missouri Senate on Monday easily approved a state takeover plan for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department over the objections of the city's mayor and local senators.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Many Israelis see Gazan emigration as a good idea but not practical There has been little vocal objection from prominent opposition politicians in Israel.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of objection
Noun
  • The class will cover topics including field markings and how to identify local birds.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Focus on natural speech patterns, like questions and conversational language, and ensure your site addresses the common topics your audience might voice-search.
    — Ivan Guzenko, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of topic
Verb
  • The rejection of his candidacy, which was condemned by far-right party leaders as undemocratic, can be challenged at the constitutional court.
    — Reuters, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The Dangers of an AI Arms Race: Global Instability Schmidt and his co-authors challenge the assumption that rivals would simply accept American dominance in AGI development.
    — Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of challenge
Verb
  • Private Sector Responsibility: A Strategic Imperative As policymakers debate sweeping changes, the private sector must recognize the direct impact on human capital management and long-term business viability.
    — Solange Charas, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The resolution, to be debated at a city commission meeting Wednesday, March 19, also would eliminate about $40,000 in grants provided by Miami Beach to the nonprofit that runs the theater.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of debate
Verb
  • Garcia, his girlfriend, doubts the story because of his upcoming test.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Even as stocks slide, some like Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin say the market's overreacting and doubt a recession's coming.
    — Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of doubt
Verb
  • Philip’s mother confirmed the death with the outlet, explaining that her son died Friday night (March 14) and asked fans to respect the family’s privacy at this time.
    — Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Rolling Stone was also asked by CNN to comment on the audio’s authenticity.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of ask

Phrases Containing question

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Cite this Entry

“Question.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/question. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of question for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about question

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