Meaning & use

quizzes

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈkwɪzɪz/
US/ˈkwɪzɪz/

“quizzes” is a form of “quiz”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    Short tests or games in which people answer questions to check knowledge or for fun.

    Grammar: Plural of quiz: one quiz, three quizzes.

    Patterns

    • quizzes on something
    • quizzes about something

    Our teacher gives short quizzes every Friday morning.

    The magazine has two quizzes about world geography.

    They love online quizzes that tell you which city you should live in.

  2. verbtransitive

    Asks someone a series of questions, often to find out what they know or what happened.

    Grammar: Third person singular of quiz; it takes an object: she quizzes him about the trip.

    Patterns

    • quizzes someone about something
    • quizzes someone on something

    Their mother quizzes the children about their homework each evening.

    The officer quizzes every witness about the exact time of the accident.

    He quizzes his friends on the lyrics to old songs.

Word forms

base formquiz
past tensequizzed
-ing formquizzing

Common combinations

weekly quizzes
Weekly quizzes keep the students revising.
pop quizzes
The teacher loves pop quizzes on Monday mornings.
online quizzes
Online quizzes are a fun way to learn vocabulary.
take quizzes
Students take quizzes at the end of each unit.
pub quizzes
Pub quizzes are held every Tuesday in town.

Synonyms and how they differ

tests
Tests is more general and often means a formal exam that counts toward a grade, while quizzes are usually shorter and lighter.
questionnaires
Questionnaires collect opinions or information, whereas quizzes check knowledge or provide entertainment.
trivia games
Trivia games stress random facts for fun, while quizzes can also be serious classroom checks.

Word family

quiz noun
singular; a short test or game of questions
quizzed verb
past form, asked many questions
quizzical adjective
showing curiosity or mild puzzlement
quizmaster noun
the person who asks the questions in a quiz show

Commonly confused: quizzes or quizes? quizzes or exams?

quizzes vs quizes

Quizes is a common misspelling; the plural doubles the z, giving quizzes.

quizzes vs exams

Exams are longer, formal and usually decide a final grade, while quizzes are brief and low in stakes.

Practice

Our science teacher gives three short ___ every term to check what we remember.

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