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

One quick question mark was in goal, where Nagelsmann will be without Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the foreseeable future. —Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

How the depth chart plays out at the running back spot will be a big question mark going into cutdown day, but Blue figures to factor into the mix at the top for a feature role in the offense. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2025

But question marks linger over both of NASA’s picks for lunar landers. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025

The left side of their line is a huge question mark between tackle and guard, where Kingsley Suamataia might settle after flaming out at tackle. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for question mark

• disembark
• matriarch
• meadowlark
• patriarch
• watermark
• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark

Kids Definition

question mark

noun

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