questioning

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of question.

   Detectives were questioning several people in connection with the theft.

   Voters began questioning whether the promises would ever be kept.

   Note

   The verb form keeps the verb's grammar. As a gerund it takes a direct object: questioning the witness, questioning whether promises will be kept. The noun needs of instead: the questioning of the witness. In progressive tenses it can be transitive (were questioning several people) or used without an object, meaning to inquire. An old sense of the verb, 'to argue or dispute', is now obsolete.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   The action of asking questions, such as in a survey or formal inquiry.

   Their questioning of local residents formed the basis of the report.

   The committee's questioning aimed to gather facts about the incident.

   Similarinquiry, polling, examination

   Note

   The noun is older than it looks: Middle English already had questionyng, built from question plus -ing. It works both ways. Countably, a questioning is one session or line of inquiry (plural questionings). Uncountably, it is the activity in general, as in taking something without much questioning. When officials do the asking, it shades into the interrogation sense.

3. 3
   adjective

   Marked by inquisitiveness, doubt, or wonder; quizzical.

   She shot him a questioning glance across the table.

   His questioning tone suggested he didn't quite believe the story.

   Similarquizzical, inquiring, puzzled, curious, doubtful

   Oppositeaccepting, trusting

   Note

   Mostly an adjective for faces and voices: a questioning look, glance or tone. It usually stays ungraded, since a look either asks or it does not. Even so, more questioning and most questioning are available when the doubt comes in degrees. A more questioning tone is one that sounds less convinced.

4. 4
   noununcountable

   The act of challenging, wondering about, and doubting something.

   His questioning of long-held beliefs made some colleagues uncomfortable.

   Open questioning of authority is central to a healthy democracy.

   Similarchallenging, doubting, scrutiny, skepticism

   Oppositeacceptance

5. 5
   noununcountable

   Formal interrogation, as conducted by police or other officials.

   The witness underwent several hours of questioning at the station.

   He requested a lawyer before any further questioning began.

   Similarinterrogation, examination, cross-examination, grilling

6. 6
   adjective

   Still exploring and unsure of one's own sexual orientation or gender identity.

   The support group welcomes gay, lesbian, and questioning teens.

   She described herself as questioning throughout her early twenties.

   Note

   An identity term, and the Q in initialisms such as LGBQ+ when it is spelled out alongside lesbian, gay and bisexual. It describes people, not expressions. It stands after a verb (he is questioning) or in a list before a noun (questioning teens). That keeps it distinct from the quizzical adjective, which describes a look or a tone. It frames identity as something being worked out rather than settled.

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