different between supposed vs questionable

English

Pronunciation

• (verb)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /s??p??zd/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /s??po?zd/
• (adjective)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /s??p??z?d/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /s??po?z?d/, /s??po?zd/
• (in supposed to)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /s??p??st/, (colloquial) /sp??st/
  • (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /s??po?st/, (colloquial) /spo?st/

Verb

supposed

1. simple past tense and past participle of suppose

Adjective

supposed (not comparable)

1. Presumed to be true, but without proof

   Muhammad is the supposed messenger of God.

2. (with infinitive) Generally considered or expected.

   The movie is supposed to be good.

3. (with infinitive) Having an obligation.

   You are not supposed to smoke in the restaurant. [Note: this means, you are obliged not to smoke.]

   The phone is supposed to come with a manual.

4. (with infinitive) Intended.

   The phone is supposed to save us time.

Derived terms

• supposedly
• supposed to

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• quæstionable (archaic)

Etymology

question +? -able

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kw?st???n?bl?/
• Hyphenation: ques?tio?nable

Adjective

questionable (comparative more questionable, superlative most questionable)

1. Problematic; open to doubt or challenge.

   It is questionable if the universe is open or closed.

   • 1881, Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady, London: Macmillan, Volume I, Chapter 3, p. 28,^[1]

     A crude, cold rain was falling heavily; the spring-time presented itself as a questionable improvement.

2. Of dubious respectability or morality.

   Tiffiny’s behavior is highly questionable.

   • 1920, Carolyn Wells, Raspberry Jam, Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, Chapter 18, p. 302,^[2]

     […] he had a love of money—a sort of acquisitiveness, that led him into questionable dealings.

3. (obsolete) Inviting questions; inviting inquiry.
   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 4,^[3]

     Thou com’st in such a questionable shape

     That I will speak to thee.

Derived terms

Translations