inquire

CEFRB2

/ɪnˈkwaɪə/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To ask for information about something.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To call; to name.

Examples

  • I will inquire about the matter after I return home.

  • Let's inquire about our hotel reservations.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3

Also pronounced

  • /ɪŋˈkwaɪə/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To make an inquiry or an investigation.

  2. To ask (about something).

More examples

In context

  • May I inquire to whom I have the honor of speaking?

  • Police are already inquiring into the incident.

  • 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.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The curious student wanted to blank about the mystery of the ancient ruins.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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”).