Word
enquire
Phoneticsen·quire
US/ɪnˈkwaɪɝ/
UK/ɛnkwˈaɪə/
Definition
v. to ask for information about something. It is a more formal way to say 'ask'.
v. to seek information by questioning; to make an inquiry. Often used in formal or professional correspondence to initiate a request for details.
Examples
“I called the hotel to enquire about the room rates.”
“The customer wrote to the company to enquire whether the product was still under warranty.”
“Prospective students are encouraged to enquire about the specific entry requirements for the doctoral program before submitting their final applications to the admissions office.”
Examples
simple
“I called the hotel to enquire about the room rates.”
contextual
“The customer wrote to the company to enquire whether the product was still under warranty.”
complex
“Prospective students are encouraged to enquire about the specific entry requirements for the doctoral program before submitting their final applications to the admissions office.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive when followed by a prepositional phrase, typically taking 'about' or 'after'.
Pitfall
enquire about the price?
May I enquire about the price?
Enquire is highly formal; using it in casual conversation or without a polite modal verb can sound unnaturally stiff.
Real-World Examples
“I find it incredible that no one in all these years has stopped to enquire how I felt when making the most celebrated eulogy in the history of mankind.” “Fret no longer, enquiring young minds: John Lewis has the answer on its packing checklist for students .” Etymology
From Old French enquerre, from en- + querre (“to search, to look for”), from Latin quaerere, of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/enquire