questioning someone

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   The act of asking a person a series of questions, especially in a formal or official situation.

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase; often follows prepositions like 'after' or 'during'.

   Patterns

   • questioning someone about something
   • after questioning someone
   • during questioning

   The police kept him for questioning someone about the missing money.

   After questioning someone for hours, the officers let her go home.

   The journalist's questioning someone at the press conference made the minister uncomfortable.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   The act of expressing doubt about someone's honesty, ability, or authority.

   Grammar: Often used in negative contexts to show support: 'There is no questioning someone's commitment.'

   Patterns

   • questioning someone's motives
   • questioning someone's authority
   • no questioning someone's integrity

   She was not questioning someone's intelligence, only asking for evidence.

   Questioning someone's decisions is normal in a healthy team.

   There is no questioning someone's loyalty after all these years.

Common combinations

under questioning

The suspect broke down under questioning.

police questioning

He was released after police questioning.

questioning look

She gave me a questioning look when I mentioned the price.

Synonyms and how they differ

interrogation

More formal and often suggests aggressive, sustained questioning by authorities.

inquiry

Broader; can mean any official investigation, not just asking a person questions.

Word family

question verb

To ask someone questions, especially formally.

questioner noun

A person who asks questions.

Commonly confused: questioning someone or asking?

Practice

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