DEFINITIONS

inquire

[ in-kwahyuhr ]
/ ɪnˈkwaɪər /

verb (used without object), in·quired, in·quir·ing.

to seek information by questioning; ask: to inquire about a person.
to make investigation (usually followed by into): to inquire into the incident.

verb (used with object), in·quired, in·quir·ing.

to seek to learn by asking: to inquire a person's name.
Obsolete. to seek.
Obsolete. to question (a person).

Verb Phrases

inquire after, to ask about the state of health or condition of: Friends have been calling all morning to inquire after you.

Content related to inquire

Inquire vs. EnquireWhile inquire means “to seek information in a formal way,” enquire means “to ask in a general way.”
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Words related to inquire

detective, spy, attorney, gumshoe, quester, examiner, researcher, investigator, inquisitor, agent, police, sleuth, snooper, auditor, reviewer, inspector, hound, analyst, tester, prosecutor

Words nearby inquire

inquartation, inquest, inquiet, inquietude, inquiline, inquire, inquire after, inquiring, inquiry, inquisition, inquisitionist
Also enquire.

Origin of inquire

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin inquīrere to seek for (see in-2, query); replacing Middle English enqueren < Old French enquerre < Latin, as above

SYNONYMS FOR inquire

1–3 investigate, examine, query. 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 examination or investigation: to question the survivor of an accident. Sometimes it implies doubt: to question a figure, an account.

OTHER WORDS FROM inquire

in·quir·a·ble, adjectivein·quir·er, nounre·in·quire, verb, re·in·quired, re·in·quir·ing.un·in·quired, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH inquire

inquirer inquisitor
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inquirers

British Dictionary definitions for inquirers

inquire

enquire

/ (ɪnˈkwaɪə) /

verb

  1. to seek information; askshe inquired his age; she inquired about rates of pay
  2. (foll by of) to ask (a person) for informationI'll inquire of my aunt when she is coming
(intr often foll by into) to make a search or investigation

Derived forms of inquire

inquirer or enquirer, noun

Word Origin for inquire

C13: from Latin inquīrere from in- ² + quaerere to seek
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012