question
/ˈkwɛs.tʃən/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.35 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A worded or expressed sentence, phrase, or only a word on its own, which asks for information, a reply, or a response; an interrogative.
noun
A subject or topic for consideration or investigation.
noun
A proposal to a meeting as a topic for deliberation.
Example Sentences
- "What is your question?"
- "I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite."
- "Can I ask you two a question? / Please, Christ, yes. / How can you two live like this? / How can... / Don't google the question, Moss!"
- "When bodies change quickly or noticeably, assumptions often follow—and so does the desire to ask one potentially fraught question: Did medication play a role?"
- "The question of seniority will be discussed at the meeting."
- "There was a question of which material to use."
Etymology
From Middle English questioun, from Anglo-Norman questiun, from Old French question, from Latin quaestiōnem, accusative of quaestiō (“a seeking, investigation, inquiry, question”), from quaerere (“to seek, ask, inquire”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Doublet of quest. Partially displaced native Old English āscung, whence asking. Compare also Middle Low German quēstie (“questioning; inquiry”), Middle High German questje (“question”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: questioun, questiun, question, quaestiōnem, *kʷaizeō, *kʷeh₂-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkwɛs.tʃən/
- British English: /ˈkwɛs.tʃən/