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

Steinbach comes with even more question marks on defense. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 23 June 2026

There’s no question mark hanging over the release of the other iPhones and Apple products expected for this fall. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

But his burst with the ball is a question mark, and that is a trait that the Warriors could use. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 June 2026

My only question mark is with him not playing, what is that? — David Aldridge, New York Times, 21 June 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