inquire
Americanverb (used without object)
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to seek information by questioning; ask.
to inquire about a person.
- Synonyms:
- query, examine, investigate
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to make investigation (usually followed byinto ).
to inquire into the incident.
- Synonyms:
- query, examine, investigate
verb (used with object)
-
to seek to learn by asking.
to inquire a person's name.
- Synonyms:
- query, examine, investigate
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Obsolete. to seek.
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Obsolete. to question (a person).
verb phrase
verb
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to seek information; ask
she inquired his age
she inquired about rates of pay
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(foll by of) to ask (a person) for information
I'll inquire of my aunt when she is coming
-
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to make a search or investigation
Usage
What's the difference between inquire and enquire? Inquire and enquire mean the same thing: to ask, to seek information, or to investigate. Enquire is a less common variant of inquire. Their noun forms—inquiry and enquiry—also have the same meanings: a question, an investigation, a request for information, or the process of seeking information. Both inquire and enquire are somewhat formal. Some speakers of British English may use both words, preferring inquire in contexts that are more formal. In the U. S., enquire is rarely used. Here’s an example of inquire used correctly in a sentence. Example: I’m calling to inquire about the open position. Enquire could be used in this sentence in the same exact way. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between inquire and enquire.
Synonym Usage
Inquire, ask, question imply that a person addresses another to obtain information. Ask is the general word: to ask what time it is. Inquire is more formal and implies asking about something specific: to inquire about a rumor. To question implies repetition and persistence in asking; it often applies to legal examinationor investigation: to question the survivor of an accident. Sometimes it implies doubt: to question a figure, an account.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inquiresimple
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inquiressimple
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have inquiredperfect
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has inquiredperfect
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am inquiringprogressive
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are inquiringprogressive
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is inquiringprogressive
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have been inquiringperfect progressive
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has been inquiringperfect progressive
Past
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inquiredsimple
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had inquiredperfect
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was inquiringprogressive
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were inquiringprogressive
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had been inquiringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of inquire
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin inquīrere “to seek for” ( see in- 2, query); replacing Middle English enqueren, from Old French enquerre, from Latin, as above
Explanation
The verb inquire means "to ask for information." If you wonder about how the world began, you inquire about its origin. Inquire comes from the Latin combination of words in, meaning "into" and quærere, meaning "ask, seek." When you inquire, you look into something. You might ask a question, like inquiring if the bakery is hiring any cake decorators. Inquire can also mean "to conduct an investigation." No matter how you do it, when you inquire, you seek answers.
Vocabulary lists containing inquire
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering
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"Working Toward Peace," Vocabulary from the personal essay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Last year, the Pentagon forwarded a list of 12 different Ukrainian drones to several large U.S. defense companies to inquire if they wanted to build them or work with them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Her status remains uncertain, and reporters in attendance Monday were told not to inquire further about Watkins’ recovery timeline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
One recent morning, a client from Florida called Hubbard to inquire about a bomb shelter for 10 people.
From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026
The social worker did not check what information Surrey Police held on the family, and they did not speak to the school to inquire more about Sara's change in demeanour.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2025
“Madam, did a Mr. Mwakangale inquire after these two gentlemen?” he asked, pointing to us.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
“Are these the last days?” a village priest inquires.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
Melania inquires about what Macron has done to curb bullying and anxiety among French youth.
From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2026
The FBI has made inquires about the Activision settlement, though the focus of the inquiry is unclear.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2025
Coach Margueritte Aozasa has made an informal game of asking anyone who inquires about having a 16-year-old on her roster to pick her out when scanning the players on the field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2025
“He inquires always,” I said, “into the nature of right and wrong; which is the issue in this present contest.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
“And who is this Ted person?” my then-well father inquired.
From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026
During production, his mother inquired about the film’s content.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
We inquired today about whether it was included in our maintenance fees.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026
The European Commission inquired about the current allegations in a letter on February 19.
From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026
“What do sorcerers have that prentices lack?” he inquired.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
He called the county registrar-recorder inquiring about the status of his mail-in ballot, he said, but the election staff didn’t see him listed as a registered voter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
"We get tons of people inquiring about stories, and normally we kind of fob them off a bit," he said.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
I never steered inquiring family and friends away from Spirit unless it was an event they couldn’t miss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
This is what the inquiring mind of Hideki Kuriyama, Shohei Ohtani’s former manager, wanted to know.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2026
In the early days, mill owners greeted workers by their first name each morning, inquiring about the health of children, who might also be known by name.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
