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)
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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.
Related Words
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
- inquirable adjective
- inquirer noun
- reinquire verb
- uninquired adjective
Etymology
Origin of inquire
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin inquīrere “to seek for” ( in- 2, query ); replacing Middle English enqueren, from Old French enquerre, from Latin, as above
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.
After the Journal inquired about the incidents, the company said that its methods can lead to testing failures.
By Friday afternoon, Baker said, he had received hundreds of inquiring calls.
From Los Angeles Times
A May 8, 2014, email from Groff, Epstein’s secretary, reviewed by the Journal, inquired if Kahn had brought the cash that day.
Some businesses didn’t allow underage workers, they said, while others look the other way and don’t inquire about ages.
From Los Angeles Times
Before AIG announced his appointment in July, the company inquired with Lloyd’s about Neal, one of the people familiar with the matter said.
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.
