Meaning & use
being questioned
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
the state of being asked questions, especially by police, officials, or journalists.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase after verbs like fear, or prepositions like after, while, or about.
Patterns
- being questioned by the police
- being questioned about something
- after being questioned
Two witnesses are being questioned by police this morning.
She was released after being questioned for several hours.
The minister avoided being questioned about the missing funds.
phrasefixed phrase
the state of having your ideas, decisions, or authority doubted or challenged.
Grammar: Often follows verbs like hate or resent, and can be followed by by someone.
Patterns
- being questioned by someone
- resent being questioned
He resents being questioned by junior staff.
The whole policy is being questioned after the latest failures.
Her honesty was being questioned long before the trial began.
Common combinations
- question someone about something
- Police questioned him about his movements that night.
- under questioning
- Under questioning, she changed her story.
- beyond question
- Her loyalty is beyond question.
- call something into question
- The results call the whole method into question.
Synonyms and how they differ
- interrogated
- Much stronger and usually means long, aggressive police questioning; questioned is neutral.
- challenged
- Focuses on doubting or disputing an idea rather than asking for information.
Opposites
Word family
- question verb
- to ask someone questions, or to express doubt about something.
- questioning noun
- the act of asking questions or expressing doubt.
- questionable adjective
- possibly not honest, true, or acceptable.
- questioner noun
- a person who asks questions.
Commonly confused: being questioned or being asked?
being questioned vs being asked
Being asked is neutral and everyday; being questioned suggests official, serious, or repeated asking.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'being questioned' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The pattern is question someone about something, so 'about the robbery' is correct. 'For' would suggest a reason rather than a topic, and the other prepositions do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “being questioned”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.