questioning

[ kwes-chuh-ning ]

/ ˈkwɛs tʃə nɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR questioning ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

indicating or implying a question: a questioning tone in her voice.

characterized by or indicating intellectual curiosity; inquiring: an alert and questioning mind.

noun

an inquiry or interrogation.

Origin of questioning

First recorded in 1795–1805; question + -ing², -ing¹

Words nearby questioning

question of law, question period, question time, questionable, questionary, questioning, questionless, questionmaster, questionnaire, questor, quetsch

Definition for questioning (2 of 2)

question

[ kwes-chuhn ]

/ ˈkwɛs tʃən /

noun

a sentence in an interrogative form, addressed to someone in order to get information in reply.

a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.

a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed by of): It was simply a question of time.

a subject of dispute or controversy.

a proposal to be debated or voted on, as in a meeting or a deliberative assembly.

the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.

Politics. a problem of public policy submitted to the voters for an expression of opinion.

Law.

a controversy that is submitted to a judicial tribunal or administrative agency for decision.
the interrogation by which information is secured.
Obsolete. judicial examination or trial.

the act of asking or inquiring; interrogation; query.

inquiry into or discussion of some problem or doubtful matter.

verb (used with object)

to ask (someone) a question; ask questions of; interrogate.

to ask or inquire.

to make a question of; doubt: He questioned her sincerity.

to challenge or dispute: She questioned the judge's authority in the case.

verb (used without object)

to ask a question or questions.

Origin of question

1250–1300; (noun) Middle English questio(u)n, questiun < Anglo-French questiun, Middle French question < Latin quaestiōn- (stem of quaestiō), equivalent to quaes-, stem of quaerere to ask + -tiōn- -tion; (v.) late Middle English < Middle French questioner, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR question

1 inquiry, query, interrogation.

11 query, examine.

12 See inquire.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR question ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR question

1, 11 answer, reply.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR question ON THESAURUS.COM

Example sentences from the Web for questioning

But, growing up, he had never ascribed to any kind of religion, always doubting and questioning it.

Beaten By His Church for Being Gay |Justin Jones |December 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
After just a “few minutes” of questioning at Cobalt, he was subject to enhanced interrogation techniques.

Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon |Tim Mak |December 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The line of questioning is a regular ritual conducted between Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the press corps.

CIA Torture Report ‘Days’ Away, Feinstein Says |Tim Mak |December 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The spirit of the novel is one of doubt and questioning; its knowledge is provisional and its perspectives multiple.

The Birth of the Novel |Nick Romeo |November 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Amir moves from a swaggering hotshot who seems to know it all to a broken man now questioning everything.

Religion, Race, and a Broadway Hit: The Making of ‘Disgraced’ |Tim Teeman |November 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He looked at her keen, questioning, and she bleached to the lips.

The Lost Pibroch |Neil Munro
I had never thought of questioning the justice of the verdict expressed against me.

An Autobiography |Anthony Trollope
Marion gave her daughter one loving look, and entering cast a fearful, questioning glance around the kitchen.

Heather and Snow |George MacDonald
Formerly, the younger girl would have persisted in questioning her about the proposed journey, and in knowing its purpose.

The Plow-Woman |Eleanor Gates
It would be a mere waste of words to persist in questioning her.

The Two Destinies |Wilkie Collins

British Dictionary definitions for questioning (1 of 2)

questioning

/ (ˈkwɛstʃənɪŋ) /

adjective

proceeding from or characterized by a feeling of doubt or uncertainty

enthusiastic or eager for philosophical or other investigations; intellectually stimulated an alert and questioning mind

Derived forms of questioning

questioningly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for questioning (2 of 2)

question

/ (ˈkwɛstʃən) /

noun

a form of words addressed to a person in order to elicit information or evoke a response; interrogative sentence

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

a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point a question of money; there's no question about it

an act of asking
an investigation into some problem or difficulty

a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body

put the question to require members of a deliberative assembly to vote on a motion presented

law a matter submitted to a court or other tribunal for judicial or quasi-judicial decision

question of fact (in English law) that part of the issue before a court that is decided by the jury

question of law (in English law) that part of the issue before a court that is decided by the judge

beg the question

to avoid giving a direct answer by posing another question
to assume the truth of that which is intended to be provedSee petitio principii

beyond (all) question beyond (any) dispute or doubt

call in or into question

to make (something) the subject of disagreement
to cast doubt upon the validity, truth, etc, of (something)

in question under discussion this is the man in question

out of the question beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossible the marriage is out of the question

pop the question informal to propose marriage

verb (mainly tr)

to put a question or questions to (a person); interrogate

to make (something) the subject of dispute or disagreement

to express uncertainty about the validity, truth, etc, of (something); doubt

Derived forms of question

questioner, noun

Word Origin for question

C13: via Old French from Latin quaestiō, from quaerere to seek

usage for question

The question whether should be used rather than the question of whether or the question as to whether: this leaves open the question whether he acted correctly

Idioms and Phrases with questioning

question

see ask a stupid question; beg the question; beside the point (question); beyond question; burning question; call in question; in question; leading question; loaded question; open question; out of the question; pop the question; rhetorical question; without question.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

questioning

adjective

noun

Origin of questioning

OTHER WORDS FROM questioning

Words nearby questioning

Definition for questioning (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of question

SYNONYMS FOR question

ANTONYMS FOR question

OTHER WORDS FROM question

Example sentences from the Web for questioning

British Dictionary definitions for questioning (1 of 2)

adjective

Derived forms of questioning

British Dictionary definitions for questioning (2 of 2)

noun

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of question

Word Origin for question

usage for question

Idioms and Phrases with questioning

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

questioning

adjective

noun

Origin of questioning

OTHER WORDS FROM questioning

Words nearby questioning

Definition for questioning (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of question

SYNONYMS FOR question

ANTONYMS FOR question

OTHER WORDS FROM question

Words related to questioning

Example sentences from the Web for questioning

British Dictionary definitions for questioning (1 of 2)

adjective

Derived forms of questioning

British Dictionary definitions for questioning (2 of 2)

noun

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of question

Word Origin for question

usage for question

Idioms and Phrases with questioning