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ask sb a question


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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ques•tion /ˈkwɛstʃən/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. a sentence in a form that is spoken to someone in order to get information in reply:[countable]Please answer me when I ask you a question.
  2. a problem for discussion or under discussion;
    issue:[countable]There is another side to this question.
  3. a problem or question given as part of an examination:[countable]The test had 40 short-answer questions.
  4. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty;
    problem: [countable]It was mainly a question of time.[uncountable]There can be no question of his guilt.
  5. Government a proposal to be debated or voted on:[countable]The question is before the committee.
  6. Government the procedure of putting a proposal to vote:[countable* usually: the + ~]He insisted on calling the question.

v. 
  1. to ask questions of;
    interrogate:[~ + object]The police questioned him closely.
  2. to make a question of;
    doubt: [~ + object]They questioned our sincerity.[~ + clause]I question if you are ready for success.
Idioms
  1. Idioms beyond (all) question, beyond dispute;
    without doubt:She is, beyond question, the most glamorous actress of all.
  2. Idioms call in or into question, to dispute;
    challenge;
    cast doubt upon;
    question: [call + into + ~ + object]to call into question someone's patriotism.[call + object + into + ~]called her patriotism into question.
  3. Idioms in question:
    • under consideration:Where were you on the night in question?
    • in dispute:His finances aren't in question.
  4. Idioms out of the question, not to be considered:getting an appointment for today is out of the question.

See -ques-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ques•tion  (kwes′chən),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a sentence in an interrogative form, addressed to someone in order to get information in reply.
  2. a problem for discussion or under discussion;
    a matter for investigation.
  3. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty;
    problem (usually fol. by of ):It was simply a question of time.
  4. a subject of dispute or controversy.
  5. a proposal to be debated or voted on, as in a meeting or a deliberative assembly.
  6. the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.
  7. [Politics.]a problem of public policy submitted to the voters for an expression of opinion.
  8. [Law.]
    • a controversy that is submitted to a judicial tribunal or administrative agency for decision.
    • the interrogation by which information is secured.
    • [Obs.]judicial examination or trial.
  9. the act of asking or inquiring;
    interrogation;
    query.
  10. inquiry into or discussion of some problem or doubtful matter.
  11. beg the question. See beg (def. 9).
  12. beyond question, beyond dispute;
    without doubt:It was, beyond question, a magnificent performance.Also, beyond all question. 
  13. call in or into question:
    • to dispute;
      challenge.
    • to cast doubt upon;
      question:This report calls into question all previous research on the subject.
  14. in question:
    • under consideration.
    • in dispute.
  15. out of the question, not to be considered;
    unthinkable;
    impossible:She thought about a trip to Spain but dismissed it as out of the question.

v.t. 
  1. to ask (someone) a question;
    ask questions of;
    interrogate.
  2. to ask or inquire.
  3. to make a question of;
    doubt:He questioned her sincerity.
  4. to challenge or dispute:She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

v.i. 
  1. to ask a question or questions.
  • Middle French questioner, derivative of the noun, nominal
  • Latin quaestiōn- (stem of quaestiō), equivalent. to quaes-, stem of quaerere to ask + -tiōn- -tion; (verb, verbal) late Middle English
  • Anglo-French questiun, Middle French question
  • (noun, nominal) Middle English questio(u)n, questiun 1250–1300
ques′tion•er, n. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inquiry, query, interrogation.
    • 16.See corresponding entry in Unabridged query, examine.
    • 17.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See inquire. 
    • 1, 16.See corresponding entry in Unabridged answer, reply.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
WH-ques•tion  (dub′əl yo̅o̅ āch′kwes′chən),USA pronunciation n. [Gram.](in English)
  1. Grammara question containing a WH-word, often in initial position, and calling for an item of information to be supplied, as Where do you live? Also,wh- question. Cf. yes-no question. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
question / ˈkwɛstʃən/
  1. a form of words addressed to a person in order to elicit information or evoke a response; interrogative sentence
  2. a point at issue: it's only a question of time until she dies, the question is how long they can keep up the pressure
  3. a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point
  4. an act of asking
  5. an investigation into some problem or difficulty
  6. a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body
  7. put the question ⇒ to require members of a deliberative assembly to vote on a motion presented
  8. a matter submitted to a court or other tribunal for judicial or quasi-judicial decision
  9. beg the question ⇒ to assume the truth of that which is intended to be proved
    See petitio principii
  10. beyond (all) question ⇒ beyond (any) dispute or doubt
  11. call in, into question ⇒ to make (something) the subject of disagreement
  12. to cast doubt upon the validity, truth, etc, of (something)
  13. in question ⇒ under discussion: this is the man in question
  14. out of the question ⇒ beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossible
 (mainly tr)
  1. to put a question or questions to (a person); interrogate
  2. to make (something) the subject of dispute or disagreement
  3. to express uncertainty about the validity, truth, etc, of (something); doubt
Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin quaestiō, from quaerere to seekˈquestioner

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