question
question — noun
1. words that you say or write when you want someone to tell you something
words that you say or write when you want someone to tell you something
Valentina raised her hand and asked the teacher a question about the homework.
question about + noun phrase
When the tour ended, Sirin still had several questions about the old temple.
The journalist's first question caught the mayor completely off guard.
Christopher read each survey question twice before marking his answer.
"What is the capital of Mongolia?" is a question answered in a single word.
direct question as subject of a sentence
- ask a question
- answer a question
- have a question
- raise a question
- direct question
- rhetorical question
- question about something
Grammar Patterns
question + about + noun phrase
have a question + for + person
Common Mistakes
2. one of the problems or tasks in a test or examination that measures a student's
one of the problems or tasks in a test or examination that measures a student's knowledge or skill in a particular area
Sumin finished the first three questions on the maths test in under ten minutes.
question + number in test context
The final exam had ten essay questions, and each student chose four to answer.
Each question in the listening section is worth two points.
The question on page three asked students to label the parts of a flower.
Walid skipped the hardest question and came back to it at the end.
- exam question
- essay question
- multiple-choice question
- answer a question
- skip a question
- question on/about something
Grammar Patterns
question + number
question + on/about + topic
Usage Note
Often used with a number (question 1, question 2) to refer to a specific task in a test or assignment.
Common Mistakes
3. an issue, problem, or subject that people need to discuss, consider, or make a d
an issue, problem, or subject that people need to discuss, consider, or make a decision about
The question of how to reduce city traffic came up at every council meeting.
the question of + how/to-infinitive clause
Tamás raised the question of whether the school should switch to solar power.
Voters care deeply about the question of rising housing costs in the region.
The city council debated the question of whether to build a new library.
the question of + whether + to-infinitive clause
- the question of something
- raise a question
- address a question
- a question of whether
- a question of how
Grammar Patterns
the question of + noun phrase/gerund
question + about + noun phrase
Usage Note
Commonly appears in the phrase 'the question of [something]' to introduce a topic that requires discussion or decision. Unlike noun sense 1, this sense does not refer to a spoken or written sentence — it refers to a real-world issue.
Common Mistakes
4. a feeling that something may not be true, right, or certain; a lack of confidenc
a feeling that something may not be true, right, or certain; a lack of confidence about a claim or situation
There is no question that regular exercise improves both physical and mental health.
there is no question + that-clause (certainty)
The witness's honesty was called into question when her story changed for the third time.
call something into question (fixed phrase)
The manager's ability to lead the team is open to question after last month's losses.
Eitan had serious questions about whether the project could be finished on schedule.
- there is no question
- beyond question
- call into question
- open to question
- without question
- doubt
more personal and emotional; 'question' in this sense is slightly more formal and often used in fixed expressions
- uncertainty
more neutral and factual; does not imply suspicion in the same way
- certainty
the feeling of being completely sure about something
Grammar Patterns
there is no question + that-clause
call something into question
be open to question
Usage Note
Typically appears in fixed phrases: 'there is no question (that)', 'call/bring something into question', 'open to question'. Unlike other noun senses, this sense is uncountable — you cannot say 'a question' or 'two questions' when using this meaning.
Common Mistakes
5. the specific person, thing, or subject that is currently being talked about in a
the specific person, thing, or subject that is currently being talked about in a discussion or document
The house in question was built in 1920 and has not been renovated since.
[noun] + in question (post-modifier)
Dahlia argued that the money in question had already been spent on new equipment.
The person in question declined to comment when reporters approached him outside the court.
We need to focus on the matter in question and stop discussing unrelated details.
- the person in question
- the thing in question
- the matter in question
- the period in question
- the day in question
Grammar Patterns
[noun] + in question
Usage Note
This sense only appears in the fixed phrase '[noun] in question', where it follows the noun it modifies. It never stands alone as a subject or object — you cannot say 'the question is the man' to mean 'the man being discussed'.
Common Mistakes
out of the question
idiomcompletely impossible or not allowed under any circumstances
Taking a holiday this year is out of the question because we need to save every penny for the house repairs.
pop the question
idiomto ask someone to marry you, typically in a sudden or informal way
After dating for nearly three years, Anthony finally popped the question during a weekend trip to the coast.
to cause people to feel doubt about whether something is true, good, or effective
The sudden drop in test scores called the school's teaching methods into question.
beg the question
idiomto cause someone to ask a question that naturally follows from what has been said or assumed
The new policy allows unlimited overtime, which begs the question: who will pay for it?
in question
idiomcurrently being discussed or referred to
The night in question was the coldest of the year, with temperatures dropping below minus ten degrees.
good question!
idiomUsed when you do not know the answer to a question.
A: Why is the sky blue? B: Good question!
Maya asked how to fix the error, and I said, "Good question!"
Used to say that something is not difficult to predict, explain, or do.
Winning the game is just a question of practice.
It's merely a question of time before the truth comes out.
A subject that people may disagree about or find unclear.
Whether the policy is fair remains a moot point.
Is the decision final? That's a moot question now.
A subject that people may disagree about or find unclear.
Whether the plan will work is a moot question.
The origin of the tradition is a moot point among historians.
Used to say that something is not possible.
There was no question of him attending the meeting.
There is no question of the project being delayed.
question — verb
1. to ask someone many detailed questions in a thorough or official way, often beca
to ask someone many detailed questions in a thorough or official way, often because you think they may have done something wrong or need to give important information
The police questioned the witness for three hours about what she had seen that night.
questioned + [person] + about + noun phrase
Élise felt nervous when the immigration officer questioned her about her travel plans.
The committee plans to question the chief executive about the company's recent financial losses.
Several neighbours were questioned by detectives, but none of them had noticed anything unusual.
passive: be questioned + by + agent
- question a witness
- question a suspect
- question someone about something
- be questioned by the police
- question closely
- interrogate
stronger and more aggressive; suggests pressure or authority, often in police settings
- interview
neutral or journalistic; does not carry the same sense of suspicion
- cross-examine
specific to courtroom settings where a lawyer questions a witness
Grammar Patterns
question + person + about + noun phrase
be questioned + by + agent
Usage Note
Frequently used in formal, legal, or official contexts. Unlike 'ask', this verb implies a systematic or suspicious inquiry — it is not used for casual requests for information.
Common Mistakes
2. to express doubt about whether something is true, fair, sensible, or correct, of
to express doubt about whether something is true, fair, sensible, or correct, often by saying that you disagree or want more evidence
Several scientists questioned the accuracy of the study's findings and asked for more data.
question + noun phrase (accuracy, value, truth, etc.)
Lakshmi never questioned her father's decisions until she was old enough to think for herself.
The senator questioned whether the new law would help small businesses or just create paperwork.
question + whether-clause
Historians have begun to question the traditional account of the battle after finding new documents.
- question the truth of something
- question someone's motives
- question a decision
- question whether/if
- question the value of something
Grammar Patterns
question + noun phrase
question + whether/if + clause
Usage Note
Object can be a noun phrase (questioned the decision) or a whether/if-clause (questioned whether the plan would work). The subject is typically a person or group who was previously accepting and is now re-evaluating. Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense does not involve asking questions aloud — it is about mental doubt or verbal challenge.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- questionableadjectiveB2
- unquestionableadjectiveC1
- unquestionablyadverbC1
- questionnairenounB2
- questioningadjectiveB2
- unquestioningadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All three words refer to an attempt to get information, but they differ in register and context. 'Question' is the most general and everyday word: you ask a question in class, during a conversation, or in a survey. 'Query' is more formal and often implies a specific doubt or need for clarification — you send a query to a customer service department or database. 'Inquiry' (also spelled 'enquiry') suggests a longer, more systematic search for information: a journalist might launch an inquiry into a government scandal, or a committee might hold an inquiry. For a learner at A2 level, 'question' is the safest choice in nearly all spoken situations. Use 'query' for polite written requests, and 'inquiry' when referring to an official or prolonged investigation.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'question' comes from the Latin noun 'quaestio', meaning 'a seeking, an inquiry', which was formed from the verb 'quaerere' ('to ask, to seek, to try to find'). It passed into English through Old French 'question' in the 13th century. The original sense of 'a posed inquiry' has been in use since then. The verb form meaning 'to interrogate' appeared around the 15th century, and the sense of 'to doubt or challenge' developed by the 1700s.