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QUESTIONING
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A request for information
Synonyms:
inquiring; questioning
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("questioning" is a kind of...):
asking; request (the verbal act of requesting)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "questioning"):
challenge (questioning a statement and demanding an explanation)
enquiry; inquiry; interrogation; query; question (an instance of questioning)
examination; interrogation; interrogatory (formal systematic questioning)
Derivation:
question (pose a question)
question (pose a series of questions to)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Showing curiosity
Example:
raised a speculative eyebrow
Synonyms:
inquisitive; questioning; speculative; wondering
Classified under:
Similar:
curious (eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns))
Sense 2
Meaning:
Perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
Example:
he had a quizzical expression
Synonyms:
questioning; quizzical
Classified under:
Similar:
perplexed (full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Marked by or given to doubt
Example:
a skeptical listener
Synonyms:
doubting; questioning; sceptical; skeptical
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
distrustful (having or showing distrust)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb question
Context examples:
I am so glad I have type-written out my own journal, so that, in case he asks about Lucy, I can hand it to him; it will save much questioning.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Had he been a handsome, heroic- looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will, and offering my services unasked.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
He looked at me with a very questioning eye, and I read hesitation in his face.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
But the dogs were observant, and suddenly they stopped, turning their heads and looking back at their master out of eyes that were wistful and questioning.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
She spoke in a beautiful, rich voice, with the most heart-broken thrill in it, but I could not conceal from myself that she appeared to be one of the most robust persons that I had ever seen, and I was surprised to notice that she shot arch little questioning glances at me, as if the admiration even of so insignificant a person were of some interest to her.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The last words were in answer to the look the elder lady gave him, a kindly questioning look which the handsome eyes met so frankly that the little ceremony closed, as usual, with a motherly kiss.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my companion.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
You saw yourself how neither of the inspectors dreamed of questioning his statement, extraordinary as it was.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
As they formed into ranks, each man dropping silently into his place, Sir Nigel ran a questioning eye over them, and a smile of pleasure played over his face.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Our visitor sank into an armchair and looked from one to the other of us with questioning eyes.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
