question

Definitions

quest (seek, ask) + -ion (act, result) = literally 'a thing sought.' To ask a question is to seek information. The same root drives the verb's two senses: to question someone is to seek answers from them; to question a claim is to seek out whether it is true — i.e. to doubt it.

Why It Means This

Question sits at the hinge between 'asking' and 'doubting.' The noun is neutral seeking ('a good question'); the verb can be neutral ('the police questioned him') or skeptical ('I question his motives'). The shift from seeking information to seeking truth is what lets one word do both jobs.

Common Collocations

• 1.ask a question提问
• 2.raise a question提出问题
• 3.out of the question不可能的
• 4.beg the question回避论点（循环论证）
• 5.in question讨论中的

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Can I ask you a quick question about the schedule?

• 2.

  The committee debated the question of funding for hours.

• 3.

  Police questioned three witnesses about the accident.

• 4.

  Many experts question whether the plan will actually work.