question mark

Pluralquestion marks

1. 1
   written symbolnouncountable

   The mark ? that you put at the end of a sentence that asks something.

   Every question in the quiz needs a question mark at the end.

   The teacher circled all the missing question marks in red.

   Similarquery

   Note
2. 2
   doubtnouncolloquialfigurativelycountable

   Doubt, or a feeling that something is not certain.

   The rain has put a question mark over Saturday's picnic.

   There are still question marks about how much the trip will cost.

   Similardoubt, uncertainty

   Oppositecertainty

   Note
3. 3
   mysterynouncolloquialfigurativelycountable

   A person or thing that is a mystery and hard to understand.

   My grandfather's early life is a big question mark to all of us.

   The new neighbor is a question mark, and nobody knows what she does all day.

   Similarmystery, puzzle

   Note
4. 4
   said aloudparticlecolloquial

   Said out loud at the end of a sentence to show you are not sure, often with your voice going up.

   The party starts at seven, question mark?

   I can wear jeans to the wedding, question mark?

   Note
5. 5
   butterflynouncountable

   A North American butterfly with a silver mark shaped like a question mark under its back wing.

   We saw a question mark resting on the fence in our backyard.

   The orange and black question mark flew away when I got close.

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 5