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

DuPont's guidance is another question mark hanging over the earnings release. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026

And there are a lot of question marks about the degree to which Senator Graham's policy positions are different or similar to her late brother's. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

His departure leaves question marks around the No 9 alternatives for Hurzeler. — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Our business guru Dade Hayes notes that the Walking Dead renewal comes amid heightened investor scrutiny of engagement on Netflix, with question marks over ratings declines in the second seasons of original shows. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 July 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