inquire
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to ask someone for information about something.
to seek information by questioning; often used with 'about', 'after', or 'into'.
Simple“I called the hotel to inquire about the price of a double room.”
In context“The journalist contacted the press office to inquire about the recent changes to the company's environmental policy.”
UsageCommonly followed by the prepositions 'about' (for general info) or 'after' (for someone's health).
PitfallI inquired him about the price. I inquired about the price.Unlike 'ask', 'inquire' is usually intransitive and does not take a person as a direct object; use 'inquire of someone' or simply 'inquire about something'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to look into something carefully to find the truth or the facts.
to conduct a formal investigation or systematic study into a matter.
Simple“A special committee was formed to inquire into the cause of the accident.”
In context“The commission was mandated to inquire into the systemic failures that led to the financial crisis.”
UsageTypically takes the preposition 'into' when referring to a formal investigation.
Teacher's tipIn British English, 'enquire' is often used for general asking, while 'inquire' is reserved for formal investigations; in American English, 'inquire' is used for both.
Synonyms
“John Craggs says he inquired about help, but found he did not qualify.”
From Latin inquīrō (“to seek for”), composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“I seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Displaced Middle English enqueren (from Old French enquerre, of the same source) and native Middle English speir (“ask, inquire”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.