inquire

verb

in·​quire in-ˈkwī(-ə)r 

inquired; inquiring

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

transitive verb

1

: to ask about

some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate

—Thomas Gray

2

: to search into : investigate

inquirer noun

inquiringly

in-ˈkwī-riŋ-lē 

adverb

Phrases

inquire after

: to ask about the health of

Synonyms

• delve (into)
• dig (into)
• examine
• explore
• investigate
• look (into)
• probe
• research

Choose the Right Synonym for inquire

ask, question, interrogate, query, inquire mean to address a person in order to gain information.

ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

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 on the Web

While on a tour of the city years ago, the siblings saw the vacant former school building and inquired as to what the status of the property was. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

When regulators inquired about Truth Social’s number of signups and users, the company pushed back, and ultimately disclosed only the signups, filings show. —Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024

Always try to understand and inquire about how things are done to avoid any misunderstandings. —Rocky Romanella, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

District Attorney Gary Pasqua urged the public not to call the DA's office to harass staff or inquire about the investigation. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2024

After noticing new structures appearing on the park's flat, concrete pad downhill from a skateboard bowl built in the late 1980s, Parks and Recreation Department employees inquired about the work. —The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2024

Fahs, 35, went through 10-15 checkpoints with his colleagues in Egypt, where officers inquired about their reasons for entering. —Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024

Warren previously wrote to Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm to inquire about the misappropriation of Tesla executives and resources to X after Musk’s $44 billion takeover of what was then called Twitter in Oct. 2022. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024

Kimmel inquired after reading a lengthy list of musicians the rapper has worked with. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing inquire

• inquire into
• inquire of
• inquire after

Kids Definition

inquire

verb

in·​quire in-ˈkwī(ə)r 

inquired; inquiring

1

: to ask about

inquired the way to the train station

2

: to make an investigation

inquire into the accident

3

: to ask a question

inquired about the weather

inquirer noun

inquiringly

-ˈkwī-riŋ-lē 

adverb