# What is a rhetorical question? Definition and examples

A rhetorical question is a question asked for effect, not to get a spoken answer: the audience answers it silently in their heads, or the speaker answers it straight away. In speeches it's used to open a topic, make a point feel obvious, or get people thinking just before you give your answer.

By the Speaking Coach team at Sodhera Intelligence. Updated 2026-10-22. Source: https://www.orecci.com/speaking-coach/glossary/rhetorical-question/

## Example rhetorical questions in speeches

Made-up examples, grouped by what they do:

| What it does | Example |
| --- | --- |
| **Opens a topic** | "How many passwords have you reset this month?" |
| **Makes a point feel obvious** | "Would any of us accept a car that broke down once a week? Then why do we accept it from our software?" |
| **Asks, then answers** | "So why did the project stall? It wasn't the budget. It was the handoffs." |
| **Closes with something to think about** | "What would you try this year if you knew no one would laugh?" |

The "ask, then answer" kind is one of the most useful in presentations. It turns a list of facts into a small puzzle and its solution.

## When they work as openers

A rhetorical question works as a [hook](/speaking-coach/glossary/speech-hook/) when:

1. **Everyone can answer it instantly in their head.** "How many passwords have you reset this month?" makes each person count.
2. **It leads straight into your point.** The next sentence should use their silent answer.
3. **You pause.** Give one or two seconds of silence so people actually think. Rushing on wastes it. More on [pauses](/speaking-coach/guides/how-to-use-pauses/).

## When they fall flat

- **Clichés.** "Have you ever wondered…?" is so common that audiences tune out.
- **Questions people might answer out loud.** "Who here likes Mondays?" gets a show of hands or a heckle. That's an audience question, not a rhetorical one; fine if you want it, awkward if you don't.
- **Several in a row.** Three rhetorical questions in a row sound like you're avoiding saying anything.
- **Questions with an uncomfortable answer.** If some people would honestly answer "yes" when you expect "no", you've lost them.

For other ways to open, see [how to start a speech](/speaking-coach/guides/how-to-start-a-speech/).

## Questions people ask

### What is an example of a rhetorical question?

"Who doesn't want more free time?" The speaker doesn't expect an answer; the point is that everyone does.

### Is it okay to start a speech with a rhetorical question?

Yes, if it's specific and you pause after it. Avoid generic ones like "Have you ever wondered…?"

### What's the difference between a rhetorical question and an audience question?

A rhetorical question expects a silent answer. An audience question, like asking for a show of hands, expects people to respond.

### How many rhetorical questions should a speech have?

Usually one to three in a five-to-ten-minute talk, spaced out.

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