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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rest of the cast comes with big question marks after injuries and inconsistency plagued this group last season. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 Aside from Texas Tech, everyone in the Big 12 has question marks and is beatable. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025 Georges Debbas, head of EU equity derivatives at BNP Paribas, meanwhile, said there are question marks over the AI theme heading into 2026, particularly over the potential downside among firms with large investments with low returns in the sector. Hugh Leask, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025 The federal government shut down Wednesday, delaying pay for federal workers (of whom there are 25,000 in Indiana), placing question marks on the financial health of federal aid programs like SNAP and WIC, and causing mass confusion and limbo in immigration court. Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for question mark

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of question mark was in 1862

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Question mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/question%20mark. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

question mark

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

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