query 1 of 2

Definition of querynext

query

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb query contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of query are ask, inquire, interrogate, and question. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

When might ask be a better fit than query?

In some situations, the words ask and query are roughly equivalent. However, ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

When can inquire be used instead of query?

While in some cases nearly identical to query, inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

In what contexts can interrogate take the place of query?

The synonyms interrogate and query are sometimes interchangeable, but interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

Where would question be a reasonable alternative to query?

The words question and query are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of query
Noun
Al Khatib expects queries and new productions to resume when the fighting ends, but notes that the situation remains complicated. Ed Meza, Variety, 15 June 2026 Acknowledging its decision to err on the side of caution, Anthropic said Fable 5’s safety-first approach might incorrectly flag harmless requests as being suspicious for less than 5% of queries. Jared Perlo, NBC news, 11 June 2026
Verb
The poll took place between June 5 and June 8 and queried 1,642 Maine residents online. Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 June 2026 Flay frequently answers fans’ queries about his Food Network series on social media, addressing a wide variety of topics. Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for query
Recent Examples of Synonyms for query
Noun
  • The prosecutor’s office, taking a fresh look at the murder, learned the lead investigator shared those doubts.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Caicedo has made a name for himself as a regular starter for Chelsea in recent years — and his appearance in the Champions League leaves no doubt about his experience in high stakes matches.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Furthermore, ElAttrache wrote a letter supporting McGregor’s request for a therapeutic use exemption from UFC drug policies.
    Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
  • Law enforcement made that request as part of their efforts to solve the case.
    John Miller, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • For generations, those rules have been questioned and debated but rarely tested – until now.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services applauded the FTC’s move, pointing to an HHS review that questioned WPATH standards.
    Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Denver’s brass was asked about those comments on Wednesday, and Wallace responded by sharing some thoughts on the team’s internal and external goals.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 June 2026
  • The firms asked the judge to dismiss the case Wednesday, arguing Uber had failed to prove fraud.
    Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • If unethical actors can deploy custom frontier AI models to aggressively interrogate smart contracts and find hidden protocol flaws, human-only defensive audits will be rendered obsolete.
    Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • New York police executing a search warrant raided an LGBTQ+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, and some of the patrons resisted as officers continued interrogating them and bar employees.
    USA Today, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • But there is plenty of skepticism about whether these will meaningfully boost economic growth.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • The productivity illusion Acemoglu’s skepticism about AI’s economic upside isn’t contrarianism — it’s grounded in a framework he’s applied to every major wave of automation for decades.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Microsoft Discovery is a cross-domain scientific platform, rather than being specialized for any one area of inquiry.
    Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Rayner directed any further inquiries to the Inspector General’s office.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Are the needs of another challenging your emotional state?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came out of the net to go for the ball, as a Ecuadorian player challenged the net.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Query.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/query. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on query

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster