Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Question has 13 different meanings across 2 categories:
an instance of questioning
"there was a question about my training"
"we made inquiries of all those who were present"
a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply
"he asked a direct question"
"he had trouble phrasing his interrogations"
uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something
"the dubiousness of his claim"
"there is no question about the validity of the enterprise"
A sentence, phrase or word which asks for information, reply or response; an interrogative.
"The teacher wrote a difficult question on the board that no student could answer correctly."
In plain English: A question is something you ask to get information or an answer.
"He asked me if I had any questions about the new rules."
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
"We must question your judgment in this matter"
pose a series of questions to
"The suspect was questioned by the police"
"We questioned the survivor about the details of the explosion"
To ask questions of; to interrogate; to ask for information.
"The detective began to question the witness about what he saw during the robbery."
In plain English: To question someone means to ask them questions or challenge what they say.
"The teacher asked me to question my assumptions before writing an essay."
Usage: Use this verb when you are formally asking someone specific details or seeking clarification, such as questioning a witness in court. It is more direct and often implies an official inquiry than the synonym "ask.
The word "question" entered English from the French, where it originally meant a seeking or investigation before evolving to mean an inquiry. It replaced the native Old English term āscung, which had carried a similar meaning of asking for information.