120+ Hypothetical Questions to Think About

Hypothetical questions pose interesting debates to have with family, friends, or someone you’re just meeting. Also, they're great conversation starters!

By Katee Fletcher

Updated 4 years ago, January 21, 2021

Hypothetical questions pose interesting debates to have with family, friends, or someone you’re just meeting! The reason they’re so interesting is that there’s no correct answer someone can give, but their explanation may start a fun or intriguing conversation. Someone’s answer to a hypothetical question can say a lot about their personal belief on something, what they value, or their problem-solving skills. For this reason, they are commonly used in an interview or as conversation starters.

Looking to pick someone’s brain? Throw some hypothetical questions their way and see how they respond! Another fun way to use these is to post them on social media like Facebook and Twitter to see what people think and reply. Read through the list of questions below to discover your opinion on each situation and find your favorite questions. Have some fun with those around you.

What are Hypothetical Questions?

Hypothetical questions are set in imaginary scenarios that are not yet and may never be based in reality. These hypothetical scenarios make the responder visualize what their actions would be if that scene came to life. An answer to a hypothetical question can often show a person’s beliefs, values, or opinions; however, these are not necessarily facts.

Hypothetical Interview Questions

Going to a job interview can be nerve-racking. However, preparing some answers to an interviewer’s hypothetical questions is a great way to gain confidence! Find a hypothetical interview question below to start thinking through your answers and feel more at ease on the day of your interview.

Imagine yourself in 3 years with this company; what do you hope will be different about you then compared to now?
If we’re instructed to complete a task at work that comprises your morals, how would you handle the situation?
Hypothetically, how would you handle it if your peers resisted a new idea or policy you introduced?
One day, you are put in charge of a large-scale project that directly affects the company’s success. In this hypothetical scenario, how would you plan on working on it?
You encounter a hypothetical situation that puts you at odds with a manager. How do you handle it?
If you were put on a task with a coworker you don’t get along with, what would you do?
You’re having difficulties with a client, what do you do?
How would you approach a large project that’s required to be finished by the end of the quarter?
Hypothetically, if I were to tell you that you failed on a project, what would be your reaction?
How would you handle a situation where a coworker is slow to respond with the information you need to complete your task?
What would you do if you made a strong recommendation in a meeting, but your colleagues decided against it?
How would you handle a situation in which the work of an employee you managed didn’t fit your standards?
What would you do if the work you’ve completed is not up to standard, but the deadline to complete it is tomorrow?
What would you do if you disagreed with how a manager wanted you to handle a problem?
How would you handle working with a colleague who is very different from you?
You realize an early mistake in a project is going to put you behind the deadline. How would you handle this situation?
What steps would you take to persuade your colleagues to see your vision on a project’s direction?
Hypothetically, if you made a pitch in a meeting and it was criticized by your peers and changed, how would you handle it?
If I were to ask many people who know you for 3 adjectives that describe you, what would I hear?
Hypothetically, if you were to grow unhappy at the company, would you speak up or stay quiet about it?
You have an incredible day at work. That day you come home and think, “I have the best job in the world.” What would you say you did at work that day?
If I had the chance to talk to someone that didn’t like you, what would they tell me about you?
If you were a consultant, what would the sign on your door say?
If you could pick one professional to be mentored by, who would it be and why?
If you were the interviewer instead of the interviewee for this company, what question would you ask?
What would you do if you made a mistake, but no one else noticed? Would you address the error and risk slowing down the process or ignore it to keep the task moving forward?

Deep Hypothetical Questions

Asking a deep question about a hypothetical situation is a great way to get to know someone’s morals and beliefs without asking them outright. Whether it’s someone you’re just meeting or someone you’ve known forever, these questions will lead to some fascinating conversations.

If you could kill one person to end world hunger, would you do it?
If you could clone yourself, would you?
If you could erase the memories of a past lover who broke your heart, would you do it?
One day, you’re walking in the woods, and you come across a suitcase with 1 million dollars in it. You open it up and enclosed is a note that says, “don’t.” Would you still take it?
You find a book, and once you start reading, you discover it’s the story of your life. Once you reach the point you’re at now, would you continue to read knowing that you can’t change future chapters?
If you were able to find out when you’re going to die and how you’re going to die, would you want to know?
Hypothetically, you are given a choice to live out the rest of your life with pure happiness or live unhappily forever and never die. Which do you choose?
In the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, he lived his years in reverse. If you had the option to live this way and have years of wisdom while you’re young, would you?
An invention is made that permits communication between the present and the future 50 years from now. You get to ask your future self one question, what would it be?
If you knew for certain that the existence of God is true, would you change anything about how you’re living your life?
If you knew for certain that the existence of God isn’t true, would you change anything about how you’re living your life?
If you could relive the past year of your life, would you change any of the decisions you made?
You are given two options after you die. Either wander on Earth as a ghost for eternity or find out what comes next in the afterlife. Which do you choose?
You have the opportunity to save a friend’s life by jumping off of a 40-story building onto a blow-up pad. This pad boasts a 95% survival rate for you so, would you be willing to jump?
If you never had to sleep again, what would you do with the extra time?
If humans lost the ability to see all colors except one, which one would you want to keep?
If everyone was mentally and physically incapable of lying, how would that change the world?
Would you rather have to say everything that comes to your mind or never speak again?
Would you rather be deaf or blind?
If you could live in anyone’s head for 15 minutes, whose would you choose to live in?
If you knew with 100% certainty that the world is a simulation, how would you change the way you’re living?
If the average life expectancy changed to 500 years old, how would you change the way you’re living?
You are a scientist, and you have two options to choose from. One is making a ground-breaking discovery but then dying, so you are unable to share it. The other is never making a ground-breaking discovery. Which do you choose?
Do you think the world would be different if it were connected like it was with Pangea?
If you cheated on your girlfriend or boyfriend but knew you would never do it again, would you confess?
You and your partner are in love and happy but are having extreme financial problems. An attractive stranger comes along and offers you all the money you need in exchange for a night alone with your husband or wife. Would you make the trade?
Do you believe in the glass being half-full or half-empty?
Would you rather end all wars or world hunger?
Would you rather your dreams come true or two of your best friend’s dreams come true?
If the world was going to die out, but you could sacrifice yourself to save it, would you?
If advertisements didn’t exist, do you think the world would be different?
If animals could talk and communicate with humans, would you still eat them?
If you could travel 50 years into the future and never return, would you do it?
If you could cure all disease forever by killing one innocent child, would you do it?
If you had to choose between having your mother in your life or your lover, who would you choose?
If you were able to sell your soul to the devil, what would you sell it for?
Would you rather have a horrible scar across your face or lose 15 points of intelligence?
If you could go back in time, what event would you change?
If you could go back in time, what event would you want to witness?
You’re driving a car on a stormy night, and you pass by three people waiting for a ride. One is a friend who saved your life, one is someone experiencing a medical emergency, and one is the love of your life. You only have one seat open in your car, who do you take?
You receive the power to grant a wish to another person. Who would you give the wish to?
If you had the power to overcome one of your fears, which would it be?
If your only options were to live in jail for the rest of your life or die now, which would you choose?
If you needed someone at 3 A.M., who would you call?
If you had the power to gain 20 years of extra life but had to leave a stranger to die, would you?
Would you rather marry someone you hate or kill someone you love?
A company that you’ve always wanted to work for has fallen on hard times. Regardless, they offer you a job at reduced pay. Would you take the job?
If your friend was opening a clothing store, but their products were not attractive in your eyes, would you tell them?
If you received 1 million dollars but only had 5 days to spend it, what would you buy?
If you were going to die tomorrow, how would you spend today?
If you were granted all knowledge in one skill, which skill would you choose to become an expert on?
If you could have multiple personalities, what would you want your alter ego(s) to be?
You are a defense attorney, and you know your defendant is guilty of a heinous crime. Could you continue to defend them or recuse yourself?
Let’s say your family member was found guilty of murder, but they felt remorse. Would you rather they receive the longest sentence possible for the crime or the shortest sentence possible?

Funny Hypothetical Questions

These weird questions on funny hypothetical scenarios are hilarious to ask your friends or family about! Find a fun question to ask your loved ones to guarantee an interesting conversation and some laughs.

If surgically removing your left middle finger made you immune to all diseases, would you have it removed?
If you were a robot, would you want to know?
If you had to decide between being good-looking and stupid or being unattractive but incredibly smart, which would you choose?
If Jurassic Park was real, would you visit the park?
If there was an apocalypse beginning right now, what’s the first thing you would do?
If there was a zombie plague beginning and you got the choice to bunker down anywhere, where would you want to be?
Who would you pick to haunt as a ghost if you could?
You only get to listen to one band for the rest of your life; who is your pick?
Choose between the two: traveling continuously for the rest of your life or living in your home state for the rest of your life?
You can breed a hybrid animal of your choosing; which two animals do you pick to combine?
If you had to pick, would you rather live in the Sahara or Antarctica?
If you were the President for one day, what’s the first thing you would work on changing about your country?
If you were invisible for 12 hours, what would you do?
What would your weapon of choice be in a zombie apocalypse?
If there was a fight between a grizzly bear and a gorilla, which animal would you bet your money on winning?
If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, are they homeless or naked?
If you had to pick one season to live in for the rest of your life, which season would you choose?
A building is on fire, would you save a sibling or four strangers?
If you found out you weren’t able to get hurt, what’s the first thing you could try?
If someone offered you $10,000 every time they punched you in the face, how many times would you want to be hit?
If life were like a video game and you could re-spawn at home after death, how would you change the way you’re living?
If superheroes existed, do you think they would make the world a better place?
If you could choose, would you rather have a teleport machine or a time machine?
If you had to eat one part of your body or die an excruciating death, which part would you eat?
If you could travel 100 years into the future or 100 years into the past, which would you choose?
If you could pick any three people to be marooned on an island with, who would you choose?
Would you rather be 3 feet (0.91 m) tall or 9 feet (2.74 m) tall?
You have two options: live another 50 years and never leave your house again, or live another 10 and go wherever you want. Which do you choose?
Would you rather be rich or famous?
If you had the option, would you rather have the service of a chauffeur, masseuse, or chef for the rest of your life?
If you were a superhero, what would you choose as your power?
If you could choose your name at birth, would you go back and choose your name?
If you lived to be 100 and could choose between having the mind of a 30-year-old or the body of a 30-year-old?
If you could only wear one piece of clothing for the rest of your life, what would you choose to wear?
If it had to always be nighttime or daytime, which would you choose?
If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If you were able to relive a year of your life, which one would you choose?
If you could be born as the opposite sex of what you are currently, would you?
If you could passionately kiss anyone in the world, who would you choose?
If you could trade lives with another person you know for one week, who would it be?
Ley’s say you have to be stuck in a TV show for one week. Which show would you pick, and what episode would you want to be a part of?
If you could be one age forever, which age would you choose?
If you were reincarnated into an animal after you die, which animal would you choose?
If you were offered a ticket to the moon, would you go?
You are standing in a field, and all of a sudden, a U.F.O. crash lands and in the distance. You see an extraterrestrial crawl out; what do you do?