Inquire Meaning
/ɪnˈkwaɪə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo ask (about something).
verbTo make an inquiry or an investigation.
Sentence Examples
I will inquire about the matter after I return home.
Let's inquire about our hotel reservations.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The curious student wanted to ____ about the mystery of the ancient ruins.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The tourist stopped a local man to ____ about the best way to get to the historic city train station.
Word Origin & History
From Latin inquīrō (“to seek for”), composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“to 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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day.[…]A strong man—a strong one; and a heedless." ¶ "Of what party is he?" she inquired, as though casually."
— 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"It is these people, gentlemen, the disseminators of these rumours, who are my dangerous accusers; because those who hear them suppose that anyone who inquires into such matters must be an atheist."
— 1954, Plato, translated by Hugh Tredennick, “Socrates on Trial: The Apology”, in The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin Classics), Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, →OCLC, page 20:
"Canute had his portion from the rest, The which he cald Canutium, for his hyre, Now Cantium, which Kent we commenly inquire."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 12:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The curious student wanted to ____ about the mystery of the ancient ruins.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The tourist stopped a local man to ____ about the best way to get to the historic city train station.