QUESTIONING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does questioning mean? 

• QUESTIONING (noun)
  The noun QUESTIONING has 1 sense:

1. a request for information

  Familiarity information: QUESTIONING used as a noun is very rare.

• QUESTIONING (adjective)
  The adjective QUESTIONING has 3 senses:

1. perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)

2. marked by or given to doubt

3. showing curiosity

  Familiarity information: QUESTIONING used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• QUESTIONING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A request for information

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

inquiring; questioning

Hypernyms ("questioning" is a kind of...):

asking; request (the verbal act of requesting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "questioning"):

challenge (questioning a statement and demanding an explanation)

enquiry; inquiry; interrogation; query; question (an instance of questioning)

examination; interrogation; interrogatory (formal systematic questioning)

Derivation:

question (pose a question)

question (pose a series of questions to)

• QUESTIONING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)

Synonyms:

questioning; quizzical

Context example:

he had a quizzical expression

Similar:

perplexed (full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by or given to doubt

Synonyms:

doubting; questioning; sceptical; skeptical

Context example:

a skeptical listener

Similar:

distrustful (having or showing distrust)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Showing curiosity

Synonyms:

inquisitive; questioning; speculative; wondering

Context example:

raised a speculative eyebrow

Similar:

curious (eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns))

 Context examples 

“I am Mr. Holmes,” answered my companion, looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Questioning a pre-defined group of users about their practices.

(Device User Survey Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

His niece was deep in thought likewise, trying to harden and prepare herself against farther questioning.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Holmes looked at Blessington in his questioning way and shook his head.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Suddenly she stopped and gazed at us all with a questioning stare.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

All this she reeled off in a loud voice, and then glanced with sidelong, questioning eyes at Alleyne for his approval.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And always he returned, restless and uncomfortable, to whimper softly and wistfully at Kiche's side and to lick her face with eager, questioning tongue.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The result of an actual line of questioning about a sign, symptom, disease, or other medical occurrence.

(Performed Medical Condition Result, NCI Thesaurus)

“There are two very good reasons why she should, under no circumstances, be his wife. In the first place, we are very safe in questioning Mr. Williamson’s right to solemnize a marriage.”

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

If the police interview a witness to a crime, for example, their repeated questioning about selected details might lead the witness to forget information that could later prove important.

(Selective amnesia: how rats and humans are able to actively forget distracting memories, University of Cambridge)