{
    "term": "question",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a sentence, phrase or word that asks for information",
            "sensetop": "question of somethingquestion about something",
            "labels": "(formal)(formal)(formal)",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You didn't **answer my question**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You will have the opportunity to **ask questions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Does anyone **have any questions**?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I would now like to **pose** two **questions**:…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "That's a very **interesting question**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**The question is,** how much are they going to pay you?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The **big question** is, why did they do it?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**The question arises** as to whether or not he knew of the situation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The key question of what caused the leak remains unanswered.",
                    "contextForm": "question of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can I ask you a question about your first novel?",
                    "contextForm": "question about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **put a question to** the minister about the recent reforms."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I hope the police don't ask any **awkward questions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is a difficult question to answer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The short **answer to your question** is yes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government doesn’t have the answers to these difficult questions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In an interview try to ask **open questions** that don't just need ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ as an answer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I paid cash, **no questions asked**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Does anyone have any questions for our speaker?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't be afraid to ask questions as to why things are done in the way they are."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He became embarrassed when a journalist asked him pointed questions about his finances."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She refused to answer questions about her private life."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He easily evaded all the interviewer's most probing questions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I need to phrase my question rather carefully."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I wanted to find out how old he was without asking him a direct question."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Only one question remains unanswered."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The chairperson fielded technical questions that she could not answer herself."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The former minister faced questions concerning his role in the affair."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The interview panel fired questions at me from all angles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The children bombarded us with questions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These photos pose the question: where are they now?"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["awkward", "difficult", "embarrassing"],
                "verb + question": ["ask (somebody)", "have", "address"],
                "preposition": [
                    "question about",
                    "question as to",
                    "question concerning to"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a task or request for information that is intended to test your knowledge or understanding, for example in an exam or a competition",
            "sensetop": "question on something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Question 3 was very difficult."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I couldn't do Question 6."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You must **answer** all ten **questions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In the exam there's sure to be a question on energy.",
                    "contextForm": "question on something"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["awkward", "difficult", "embarrassing"],
                "verb + question": ["ask (somebody)", "have", "address"],
                "preposition": [
                    "question about",
                    "question as to",
                    "question concerning to"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a matter or topic that needs to be discussed or dealt with",
            "sensetop": "question of somethingquestion about something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This is an issue that **raises** many important **questions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Let's look at the question of security.",
                    "contextForm": "question of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Finally we shall **deal with the question** of cost."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The **question** that needs **to be addressed** is one of funding."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Questions remain** about how she was appointed.",
                    "contextForm": "question about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The case raises **serious questions** about the company's conduct."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Which route is better remains **an open question** *(= it is not decided)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The film doesn't **answer** all the **questions** it raises."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The research is **asking** the wrong **questions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new play **poses** some challenging **questions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We come now to the vexed question of pension rights."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I would like to address the question of the relationship between a prison and the community."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["burning", "challenging", "controversial"],
                "verb + question": ["bring up", "pose", "raise"],
                "question + verb": ["arise", "go unanswered", "remain unanswered"],
                "preposition": ["question about", "question for", "question of"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "doubt or not being certain about something",
            "sensetop": "beyond questionwithout questionquestion as to/about something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "His suitability for the job is **open to question**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her honesty is beyond question.",
                    "contextForm": "beyond question"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her version of events was accepted without question.",
                    "contextForm": "without question"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This case **brings into question** the whole purpose of the law."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The authenticity of the painting has been **thrown into question**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The safety of the system has recently **come into question**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His ability has never been **called into question**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I did have some questions as to his motive in coming.",
                    "contextForm": "question as to/about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She's a great dancer—**there's no question about that**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was, without question, the worst day of my life."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is no question about her enthusiasm for the job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The incident brought into question the safety of travellers in the region."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verb + question": ["come into", "call into", "be open to"],
                "preposition": ["beyond question", "in question", "without question"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to make somebody want to ask a question that has not yet been answered",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "All of which begs the question as to who will fund the project."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to talk about something as if it were definitely true, even though it might not be",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "These assumptions beg the question that children learn languages more easily than adults."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to show that you do not know the answer to a question",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘How much is all this going to cost?’ ‘Good question!’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "that is being discussed",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "On the day in question we were in Cardiff."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "in doubt; uncertain",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The future of public transport is not in question."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His sincerity is not in question."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that something is not difficult to predict, explain, do, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's merely a question of time before the business collapses."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's just a question of deciding what you really want."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Now it's just a question of getting the wording right."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a matter about which there may be difference of opinion or a lack of understanding",
            "labels": "(British English, North American English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Whether this should be enforced by law or not is a moot point."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a matter about which there may be difference of opinion or a lack of understanding",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Whether this should be enforced by law or not is a moot question."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "impossible or not allowed and therefore not worth discussing",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Another trip abroad this year is out of the question."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Permission and obligation"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to ask somebody to marry you",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "there is/was no possibility of something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "There was no question of his/him cancelling the trip so near the departure date."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkwestʃən/",
                "audio": "qu/question/question__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkwestʃən/",
                "audio": "qu/question/question__us_4.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French question (noun), questionner (verb), from Latin quaestio(n-), from quaerere ‘ask, seek’."
}