questioning

1 of 2

noun

ques·​tion·​ing ˈkwes-chə-niŋ How to pronounce questioning (audio)
ˈkwesh-
plural questionings
: the activity or process of asking questions
Illocutionary acts … such as stating, questioning, promising, or commanding.Ronald Wardhaugh
… serious questionings of the relation between art and life …J. Dennis Huston
Her folks and very pregnant sister met us at the restaurant, and it didn't take long for me to warm up to them. After sweating through a few rounds of questioning, I felt a little more at ease …Cosmopolitan
The time had also passed for any further questioning about what genes were. The name of the game was DNA.James D. Watson et al.
often : judicial interrogation
As she continued her questioning, she found herself pounding the witness stand, her voice rising in accusation until it was a scream. Carol Lynn Mithers
The FBI has seized your computers and brought you in for questioning. Graham P. Collins
CNN made a disconcerting habit of breaking away for commercials without regard to what was happening in the court—often in the middle of a line of questioning. David Hiltbrand

questioning

2 of 2

adjective

1
: expressing or implying a question
a questioning look
… looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze.Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2
: inclined to ask questions or seek information : inquisitive
The changes of direction are partly explained by this questioning attitude, and partly by his having written the book over twenty years.Sarah Bakewell
For a man with as questioning a mind as Charles Darwin's there was no danger of mental vegetation.Ronald W. Clark
3
: uncertain about or engaged in exploring one's own sexual or gender identity
Suburban Connecticut's first support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youths had just begun, and Alex was proving how desperately it was needed.Dan Woog
Facebook provides more than 50 options beyond "male" and "female" for users to describe their gender identity, from "gender questioning" and "neither" to "androgynous."Chicago Tribune
questioningly adverb
I stared questioningly at Mama, not really understanding. Mildred D. Taylor
The bartender came over and looked questioningly at Julie. "I'll have a Scotch sour on the rocks," she said. Robert B. Parker

Examples of questioning in a Sentence

Adjective a naturally questioning person, she demands rock-solid proof before she believes anything
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
After the detainment and questioning of more than 40 U.S. citizens produce no solid leads and a second, smaller cyberattack on a consumer bank leaves the nation in turmoil, George appears to be losing control of the investigation — and the country is losing its faith in him. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025 Offering a rare look at all the backdoor lobbying, moral questioning and endless waiting involved in an affair that lasted for nearly two months, director Brandon Kramer does an impressive job revealing the personal and geopolitical aspects of a heartbreaking true story. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025 But there is no reason to make a general statement about your drinking — even in response to direct questioning. Philip Galanes, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 But Trump did not stop at questioning who started the war in Ukraine. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for questioning

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of questioning was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/questioning. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

questioning

1 of 2 noun
ques·​tion·​ing
: the activity or process of asking questions

questioning

2 of 2 adjective
1
: expressing or implying a question
a questioning look
2
: inclined to ask questions or seek information : inquisitive
a questioning mind
questioningly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on questioning

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