questioning

UK: /ˈkwɛstʃənɪŋ/ US: (kwes′chə ning)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ques•tion•ing  (kwes′chə ning), adj. 

1. indicating or implying a question:
   a questioning tone in her voice.
2. characterized by or indicating intellectual curiosity;
   inquiring:
   an alert and questioning mind.

n. 

3. an inquiry or interrogation.

• question + -ing², -ing¹ 1795–1805

ques′tion•ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

questioning / ˈkwɛstʃənɪŋ/ adjective

1. proceeding from or characterized by a feeling of doubt or uncertainty
2. enthusiastic or eager for philosophical or other investigations; intellectually stimulated: an alert and questioning mind

ˈquestioningly adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ques•tion /ˈkwɛstʃən/   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. 

7. to ask questions of;
   interrogate:
   [~ + object] The police questioned him closely.
8. to make a question of;
   doubt: [~ + object]
   They questioned our sincerity.
   [~ + clause]
   I question if you are ready for success.

Idioms

9. Idioms beyond (all) question, beyond dispute;
   without doubt:
   She is, beyond question, the most glamorous actress of all.
10. 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.
11. Idioms in question:
    • under consideration:
      Where were you on the night in question?
    • in dispute:
      His finances aren't in question.
12. 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 © 2026

ques•tion  (kwes′chən), 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. 

16. to ask (someone) a question;
    ask questions of;
    interrogate.
17. to ask or inquire.
18. to make a question of;
    doubt:
    He questioned her sincerity.
19. to challenge or dispute:
    She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

v.i. 

20. 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. 
Synonyms

• 1. inquiry, query, interrogation.
• 16. query, examine.
• 17. See inquire. 

Antonyms

• 1, 16. answer, reply.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

question / ˈkwɛstʃən/ noun

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

verb (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 seek

ˈquestioner noun