questioning

The action of asking questions; a survey; an inquiry.

Adjective

  1. Characterized by questions, inquisitiveness, doubt, or wonder; quizzical.
    • Why do you have a questioning look? Are you puzzled about something?
  2. Unsure of one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
    • We entertain the boy and it becomes more evident that his dad is trans and he is questioning; my coworker keeps frowning about it. - 2020 February 4, “Transitioning To Some New Protocols”, in Not Always Right, archived...
    • Girls broadly fared worse than boys, and there is “ongoing and extreme distress” among teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning (LGBQ+). - 2023 February 13, Deidre McPhillips, “Teens, especially...

Origin

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

Forms

more questioning most questioning

Derived

nonquestioning questioningly unquestioning

Noun

  1. The action of asking questions; a survey; an inquiry.
    • I didn’t know much about medical supplies, so I took the list Docc handed me without much questioning. - 2018, Megan DeVos, Anarchy, Orion, →ISBN:
  2. The act of challenging, wondering, and doubting.
  3. Interrogation.
    • 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...

Forms

questionings

Derived

cross-questioning line of questioning self-questioning

Verb

  1. present participle and gerund of question