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 Red Sox could use a first baseman, but if Bregman walks in free agency, more question marks arise in the rest of the infield. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

But still, questions remain about the payroll, which remains a question mark publicly, and how much money the front office has to spend. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 5 Dec. 2025

This winter’s forecast isn’t extreme at this point, so the impact on the year’s water supplies is a pretty big question mark. —Adrienne Marshall, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025

Kansas City Chiefs injury report For Kansas City, the two greatest question marks are right guard Trey Smith (ankle sprain) and backup tight end Noah Gray (concussion). —Pete Sweeney november 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Nov. 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