quiz
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /kwɪz/
KK: /kwɪz/
noun
Definition
A short test or assessment, usually consisting of questions, to measure knowledge or understanding of a subject.
Example
The teacher gave us a quiz to see how much we had learned.
Conversation
Did you study for the quiz tomorrow?
I did! I hope it’s not too hard though.
Yeah, I heard the last quiz was really tricky.
Exactly! I’ll be glad when it’s over.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
test
exam
inquiry
Antonyms
answer
response
certainty
transitive verb
Definition
To ask someone questions to test their knowledge or understanding of a subject.
Example
The teacher decided to quiz the students on the material they had studied.
Tense Forms
Past: quizzed
Past Participle: quizzed
Conversation
Did you hear they're going to quiz us on the last chapter next week?
Yeah, I heard! I need to start studying for it.
I hope they don't quiz us too hard; I only skimmed the book.
Root Explanation
Quiz → The word 'quiz' is believed to have originated from the late 18th century, possibly from the Irish word 'cuis', meaning 'a question' or 'to ask'. It may also have been popularized by a hoax in which a man bet he could create a new word in 48 hours, leading to the widespread use of 'quiz' to mean a test or examination.
Memory Tip
Think of 'cuis' as a way to remember that a quiz is about asking questions.
Visually Confused Words
requiz
quinze