query

1 of 2

noun

que·​ry ˈkwir-ē How to pronounce query (audio) ˈkwer- How to pronounce query (audio)
plural queries
1
2
: a question in the mind : doubt
3

query

2 of 2

verb

queried; querying

transitive verb

1
: to ask questions of especially with a desire for authoritative information
2
: to ask questions about especially in order to resolve a doubt
3
: to put as a question
4
: to mark with a query
querier noun
Choose the Right Synonym for query

ask, question, interrogate, query, inquire mean to address a person in order to gain information.

ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

Examples of query in a Sentence

Noun I have a query about my order. The librarian responded to my query. Verb They conducted a survey in which several hundred people were queried about their dietary habits. it seems odd that someone would want two stoves, so you'd better query that order
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The party declined to comment on Saturday’s attack, referring all queries to the police. Yuri Kageyama, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024 Experts have spent years fine-tuning the ability for AI voice agents to discern between a pause and the end of a user’s query. Mike Murchison, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
The trade group queried 4,135 pharmacy owners and managers between Sept. 24 and Oct. 11. Between the lines: Independent pharmacists this summer asked Medicare administrators to ensure that they'd be reimbursed for the cost of acquiring and dispensing drugs on the price negotiation list. Maya Goldman, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024 However, the major Arizona hospital systems queried, when asked, declined to provide that information to The Republic. Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for query 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'query.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of earlier quere, from Latin quaere, imperative of quaerere to ask

First Known Use

Noun

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of query was in 1614

Dictionary Entries Near query

Cite this Entry

“Query.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/query. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

query

1 of 2 noun
plural queries

query

2 of 2 verb
queried; querying
1
: to ask questions about especially in order to clear up doubts
2
: to put as a question
queried the matter to their teacher
3
: to ask questions of
queried the professor

More from Merriam-Webster on query

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