question mark

noun

1

a

: something unknown, unknowable, or uncertain

b

: someone (such as an athlete) whose condition, talent, or potential for success is in doubt

2

: a mark ? used in writing and printing at the conclusion of a sentence to indicate a direct question

Examples of question mark in a Sentence

The team's pitching is a big question mark this season.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are varying estimates about how many North Korean troops are in the Russian region between 8,000 and 12,000 although there are question marks about their effectiveness. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

While the characters’ relationship statuses remain a question mark on-screen, many of the actors who portray them have long-term partners. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

China remains a question mark, but if Beijing ever gets its act together on stimulus — like some believe will happen— Danaher should see additional tailwinds to 2025, too. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024

Defense is another key question mark for this team. —Brian Sampson, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

question mark

noun

: a punctuation mark ? used chiefly at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question