good question: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighInformal to semi-formal
Quick answer
What does “good question” mean?
A phrase used to acknowledge that someone has asked a thoughtful, insightful, or difficult question, often when the speaker does not have an immediate answer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A phrase used to acknowledge that someone has asked a thoughtful, insightful, or difficult question, often when the speaker does not have an immediate answer.
Can be used rhetorically to introduce a complex topic, to praise the questioner's critical thinking, or as a conversational filler while formulating a response.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. Slight tendency for British English to use it more as a genuine compliment on the question's quality, while American English may use it more frequently as a conversational strategy to buy time.
Connotations
Generally positive in both. Can carry a slight connotation of deflection or unpreparedness if overused.
Frequency
Very common in both varieties, with no significant frequency difference.
Grammar
How to Use “good question” in a Sentence
[That's/It's] + good questionGood question + [pause/well...]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in meetings or Q&A sessions to acknowledge a strategic or difficult query from a colleague or client.
Academic
Common in lectures, seminars, and defences to validate a student's or peer's critical engagement with the material.
Everyday
Frequent in casual conversation when faced with a surprising or complex personal query.
Technical
Used in interviews, press conferences, or expert discussions when a question touches on a nuanced or unresolved issue.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “good question”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “good question”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “good question”
- Using it to answer a simple factual question (e.g., 'What time is it?' – 'Good question.'), which sounds sarcastic. Overusing it as a filler, making the speaker seem evasive.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While it often praises the question's depth, it can also be a polite way to say 'I don't know' or to stall for time, especially if said with a hesitant tone.
Rarely. It is primarily a spoken discourse marker. In formal writing, alternatives like 'This raises an important issue' or 'A key question here is...' are more appropriate.
You should follow it with an attempt to answer, an explanation of why it's complex, or a honest admission that you don't know. Leaving it hanging is poor form.
No significant difference in meaning. 'That's a good question' is slightly more emphatic and complete, while 'Good question' is more conversational and immediate.
A phrase used to acknowledge that someone has asked a thoughtful, insightful, or difficult question, often when the speaker does not have an immediate answer.
Good question: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd ˈkwes.tʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd ˈkwes.tʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a teacher nodding slowly and saying 'Good question...' before answering – it signals a question worthy of deep thought.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUESTIONS ARE OBJECTS OF VALUE (a 'good' question is a valuable or high-quality object).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is 'Good question' LEAST appropriate?