queries
B1Neutral to formal; common in academic, business, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
plural form of 'query': questions or requests for information, clarification, or verification.
Can also refer to formal questions submitted to a database or search engine, or to expressions of doubt about the accuracy or validity of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While a 'question' is general, a 'query' often implies a more formal, specific, or technical request for precise information, especially in computing or professional contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning difference. The spelling of related words (e.g., 'queried', 'querying') is consistent. The word is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both varieties than 'questions'. In British English, might be slightly more associated with formal written correspondence.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both dialects, with a spike in technical/professional domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have queries about somethingaddress queries to someonedeal with queriesreceive queries fromVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms use 'queries'. A related phrase: 'beyond query' (archaic) meaning beyond doubt.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Commonly refers to questions from customers or clients. 'The support team handles hundreds of customer queries daily.'
Academic
Often used for formal questions posed to a speaker after a lecture or for points requiring research. 'The panel will now address queries from the audience.'
Everyday
Used for questions, especially those requiring a precise answer. 'I have a few queries about the instructions you gave.'
Technical
Primarily refers to commands or questions posed to a database or search engine. 'The SQL queries were optimized for faster results.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She queries every item on the invoice before payment.
- Several researchers queried the methodology of the study.
American English
- The auditor queried the unusual expense entry.
- He queried the database for all entries after 2020.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form ('queryingly' is extremely rare and non-standard).
American English
- No standard adverbial form ('queryingly' is extremely rare and non-standard).
adjective
British English
- The query language was complex.
- We set up a query function for users.
American English
- The query time was remarkably fast.
- She has strong query optimization skills.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a query. What time does the shop close?
- The teacher answered all my queries.
- Please send any queries about your order to our customer service team.
- He had several queries about the homework assignment.
- The software allows users to run complex database queries without coding knowledge.
- Despite her detailed report, the committee raised a number of substantive queries.
- The search engine processes billions of web queries every single day.
- Her presentation was so cogent that it pre-empted most potential queries from the investors.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'QUERies' sounding like 'QUESTions' but more REQuest-like and technical.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUESTIONS ARE REQUESTS (for information). QUERIES ARE PRECISE TOOLS (for extracting specific data).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'запросы' for all contexts; for web/search 'queries' is correct, but for general questions 'questions' is often more natural.
- Do not confuse with 'inquiry' (расследование) which implies deeper investigation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'queries' as a singular noun (correct singular is 'query').
- Overusing in casual conversation where 'questions' is sufficient.
- Misspelling as 'quieries'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'queries' MOST specifically appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While very common in computing (database/search queries), it is widely used in business, academia, and everyday contexts to mean formal questions or requests for information.
A 'query' often implies a more formal, precise, or technical question, especially one seeking verification or specific data. A 'question' is a broader, more general term.
Yes. The main difference is in the vowel following the /kw/ sound. British English uses a schwa /ˈkwɪə.riz/, while American English uses an 'r'-colored vowel /ˈkwɪr.iz/.
The singular is 'query'. The plural is 'queries'. The verb forms are 'queries' (3rd person singular present), 'queried' (past), 'querying' (present participle).