questioning

English

Etymology

From question +‎ -ing (noun via Middle English questionyng).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwɛs.t͡ʃə.nɪŋ/, /ˈkwɛs.tjə.nɪŋ/, /ˈkwɛʃ.t͡ʃə.nɪŋ/
• (US also) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɛʃ.tə.nɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• (India) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɛs.t͡ʃɛ.nɪŋ/, /ˈkwɛʃ.(t͡ʃ)ɛ.nɪŋ/
• Hyphenation: ques‧tion‧ing

Noun

questioning (countable and uncountable, plural questionings)

1. The action of asking questions; a survey; an inquiry.
   • 2018, Megan DeVos, Anarchy, Orion, →ISBN:

     I didn’t know much about medical supplies, so I took the list Docc handed me without much questioning.

2. The act of challenging, wondering, and doubting.
3. Interrogation.
   • 1955 December 31, “Chiang Says Time Near For Mainland Uprising”, in The Christian Science Monitor, Atlantic edition, volume 48, number 31, Boston, sourced from Associated Press, Taipei, Formosa, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 5:

     The official Central News agency said a Nationalist patrol boat Dec. 28 captured six Communist spies disguised as fishermen as they approached within 1,000 yards of the Paichuan in a motorized fishing craft. They were taken to Matsu for questioning.

Derived terms

• cross-questioning
• line of questioning
• self-questioning

 

Translations

action of asking questions; a survey or inquiry

• Belarusian: апыта́нне n (apytánnje), до́пыт m (dópyt)
• Dutch: ondervraging (nl) f
• German: Befragung (de) f
• Irish: ceistiú m
• Occitan: interrogacion (oc) f
• Russian: опро́с (ru) m (oprós)
• Ukrainian: о́пит (uk) m (ópyt), опи́тування n (opýtuvannja), до́пит m (dópyt)

interrogation — see interrogation

Adjective

questioning (not generally comparable, comparative more questioning, superlative most questioning)

1. Characterized by questions, inquisitiveness, doubt, or wonder; quizzical.

   Why do you have a questioning look? Are you puzzled about something?

2. (LGBTQ) Unsure of one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
   • 2020 February 4, “Transitioning To Some New Protocols”, in Not Always Right‎^[1], archived from the original on 29 January 2021:

     We entertain the boy and it becomes more evident that his dad is trans and he is questioning; my coworker keeps frowning about it.

Verb

questioning

1. present participle and gerund of question