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

The Vols are a talented team that just happens to have a question mark at quarterback. — Austin Mock, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

And, even with a question mark in its future, WBD's assets are still attractive to other potential buyers. — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Multiple question marks and multiple exclamation marks secured better rates than single marks, which secured better rates than none. — Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

The Hurricanes have the least question marks and had the budget to acquire transfer talent to strengthen the roster. — Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

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