inquire

verb in·quire \ in-ˈkwī(-ə)r \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: inquire in a Sentence

Definition of inquire

inquired; inquiring

transitive verb

1 : to ask about

some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate
—Thomas Gray

2 : to search into : investigate

intransitive verb

1 : to put a question : seek for information by questioning

inquired about the horses

2 : to make investigation or inquiry —often used with into

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inquirer

noun

—

inquiringly

play \in-ˈkwī-riŋ-lē\ adverb

— inquire after

: to ask about the health of

See inquire defined for English-language learners

See inquire defined for kids

Examples of inquire in a Sentence

When I inquired, they told me she was not here.
We inquired the way to the station.
“So, what do you want?” he inquired.

Recent Examples of inquire from the Web

Hill initially inquired about starting the State Games through the U.S. Olympic Committee, which sanctions the event and requires a certain number of traditional Olympic sports to be included.

— glae thien, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego's Cal State Games turning 30," 12 July 2018
The agency took action after The Washington Post inquired about Rambo, who declined to comment.

— shane harris, Washington Post, "Customs and Border Protection agent faces inquiry after questioning reporter about her sources," 12 June 2018
Earlier this month, the city’s new deputy civil rights director, Charles G. Byrd Jr., resigned after The Sun inquired about his disbarment as an attorney last year.

— yvonne wenger, baltimoresun.com, "City solicitor: Baltimore will improve vetting of candidates after police chief Darryl De Sousa's suspension," 14 May 2018
Last week, a day after The Arizona Republic inquired about DCS' foster-licensing process, the agency notified Shimp she would be paid for 15½ months of care for two children, a sum that could amount to about $20,000.

— Arizona Republic, "The state took her foster license away. But the kids stayed with her. Why?," 19 June 2018
Everyone includes all the artists involved, friends, family, inquiring journalists, and essentially anyone who directly speaks to Moulton.

— andrea alonso, Los Angeles Magazine, "Fact and Fiction Collide Inside an Exhibit Inspired by a “Forgotten” L.A. Legend—and Beverly Hills Cop," 12 June 2018
Coates said other vendors have inquired about featuring their goods this summer.

— alicia fabbre, Naperville Sun, "95th Street Farmers Market a hit on opening day, vendors and customers say," 9 June 2018
Go to any one of those stores and inquire about their Rae Dunn mugs.

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "Meet Rae Dunn, the Woman Behind Those $4 Mugs Everyone Is Obsessed With," 11 Aug. 2017
According to a report by the Associated Press, Trump repeatedly inquired at a meeting in the Oval Office whether the United States could invade the troubled South American nation.

— rick noack, Washington Post, "The many problems with Trump’s reported idea of invading Venezuela," 5 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inquire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of inquire

Middle English enquiren, from Anglo-French enquerre, from Vulgar Latin *inquaerere, alteration of Latin inquirere, from in- + quaerere to seek

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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