inquirein‧quire, enquire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr/ ●○○ verb [intransitive, transitive] formal 
‘Why are you doing that?’ the boy inquired.inquire about I am writing to inquire about your advertisement in ‘The Times’.inquire whether/why/how etc The waiter inquired whether we would like to sit near the window.inquire something of somebody ‘Where’s the station?’ she inquired of a passer-by. Toby would have liked to inquire further (=ask more questions).► see thesaurus at ask—inquirer noun [countable]inquire after somebody/something phrasal verb to ask about someone’s health, what they are doing etc: He called me aside to inquire after my daughter.inquire into something phrasal verb to ask questions in order to get more information about something: The investigation will inquire into the company’s financial dealings.
WORD ORIGINinquire
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French enquerre, from Latin inquirere, from quaerere ‘to look for’VERB TABLE
inquire
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | inquire |
| he, she, it | inquires | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | inquired |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have inquired |
| he, she, it | has inquired | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had inquired |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will inquire |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have inquired |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am inquiring |
| he, she, it | is inquiring | |
| you, we, they | are inquiring | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was inquiring |
| you, we, they | were inquiring | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been inquiring |
| he, she, it | has been inquiring | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been inquiring |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be inquiring |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been inquiring |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Did you ever raise money illegally?" the interviewer inquired.
- Several people have phoned the personnel department to inquire about the position.
- We inquired at all the hotels in town, but we couldn't find Carol anywhere.
- We rang the hospital again to inquire how the old man was.
THESAURUSask a question
to speak or write to someone to get an answer: · Did you ask about the price?· They asked me a lot of questions.
formal to ask someone for information about something: · I’m writing to inquire about the job that was advertised in yesterday’s ‘Times’.
especially written to ask a question in a firm or angry way: · ‘Why didn’t you call me?’, she demanded.
to ask someone questions, to find out if they are suitable for a job, or as part of a television or radio interview: · When they interviewed me for the job, they didn’t mention the salary.· David Letterman has interviewed all the stars.
to officially ask a lot of people in order to find out their opinion on something: · Over 1,000 people were polled for the report.· 64% of the people we polled said that they approved of the way the government had handled the crisis.
Longman Language Activatorto ask someone a question · If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.· For information about the new drug, ask your doctor.ask (somebody) if/whether · I was a little surprised when he asked me if I was married.ask (somebody) about something · They'll probably just ask you about your education and work experience.ask (somebody) what/how/why etc · What should I tell people if they ask me why you didn't come to the party?ask (somebody) a question · At the end of the presentation you'll all have a chance to ask questions.
to ask for information or advice from someone, because it is their job to know about it: · Before starting any exercise program, you should consult your doctor.consult with: · The President is going to consult with European leaders before making his decision.consult somebody about something: · We've consulted with several engineers about the best way to support the bridge.
to ask something - use this especially when you are reporting what someone else has asked: · "Why didn't you write to me?" Barbara wanted to know.· The policeman wanted to know their names, but they wouldn't tell him.want to know about: · Everybody in the office wanted to know about my trip.want to know where/how/why etc: · Jason wants to know where you keep the kitchen scissors.
also enquire especially British formal to ask someone for information about something, especially someone whose job is to know about it: · "Where is the director's office?" he enquired.· We inquired at all the hotels in town, but we couldn't find Carol anywhere.inquire about: · Several people have phoned the personnel department to inquire about the position.inquire if/whether: · She stopped a guard and enquired whether the train went to Evesham.inquire how/when etc: · We rang the hospital again to inquire how the old man was.
to find out what someone thinks about your plan or idea by asking them questions, especially because you want their help or support: sound somebody out: · I think she'll like the idea, but you'd better sound her out first.sound out somebody: · Before launching the project, they sounded out a number of leading experts.sound out about/on: · The board of directors have sounded him out about taking the CEO position.
to deliberately ask someone a question that they find difficult or embarrassing to answer: · The reporter's questions were clearly designed to put the Senator on the spot.· I don't want to put you on the spot, but I'm really curious about how you know Tim.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Toby would have liked to inquire further (=ask more questions).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
to ask someone for information: Toby would have liked to inquire further (=ask more questions).· They will then be able to offer advice and first hand experience when parents inquire about good local schools.· He inquired about whether he had any discretion as to the hiring of the young man.· They were both widows, so there was no husband's welfare to inquire about.· He decided to inquire about special foods Suh might like.· He started in the 1970s by placing a free ad in Yankee magazine, inquiring about old road maps.· Some one inquired about appropriate treatments for finishing redwood or cedar decks.· Some of them even inquired about new equipment that would enable them to perform faster and more effectively.
· Toby would have liked to inquire further, but had feared a snub at his age and inexperience.· Arthur inquired further and relayed his findings.
· Now and then one, in seeing a passer-by, would raise his head and inquire how the battle had resulted.· When he inquired how much the boat cost, he found that the price was about $ 400.· He has no need to inquire how these wants are formed.
· It was a reporter from the local paper, inquiring why Jones had hung a pillowcase out her window.
NOUN· Does his Lordship mean that the court would not have inquired into any alleged misconstruction of that term?· Whether or not this be wise legislation it is not the province of the court to inquire.· There are exceptions to the rule that the court will not inquire into the adequacy of the consideration.
‘Why are you doing that?’ the boy inquired.inquire about I am writing to inquire about your advertisement in ‘The Times’.inquire whether/why/how etc The waiter inquired whether we would like to sit near the window.inquire something of somebody ‘Where’s the station?’ she inquired of a passer-by. Toby would have liked to inquire further (=ask more questions).► see thesaurus at ask—inquirer noun [countable]inquire after somebody/something phrasal verb to ask about someone’s health, what they are doing etc: He called me aside to inquire after my daughter.inquire into something phrasal verb to ask questions in order to get more information about something: The investigation will inquire into the company’s financial dealings.