inquire meaning and examples

2025-08-23

Meaning

  • Verb: To ask for information; to investigate formally.

It is often used in both everyday situations ("to ask") and formal/legal contexts ("to investigate"). Note: "inquire" and "enquire" are largely interchangeable, though inquire is preferred in American English, while enquire is more common in British English (except in legal or official contexts where "inquire" is still used).

Grammar and Usage

  • Verb (intransitive): "to inquire about sth" → to ask about something.
  • Verb (transitive): "to inquire whether/if" → to ask a specific question.
  • Formal usage: "to inquire into sth" → to investigate something.

Typical structures:

  • inquire about + noun
  • inquire whether/if + clause
  • inquire into + issue/matter

Common Phrases

  • inquire about prices
  • inquire whether something is possible
  • inquire into the matter
  • make inquiries
  • police inquiry

Collocations

  • Verb + inquire: politely inquire, formally inquire
  • Prepositions: inquire about, inquire into, inquire after (to ask about someone’s health or situation)
  • Noun forms: inquiry (countable/uncountable)

Examples

  1. She inquired about the train schedule.
  2. May I inquire whether this seat is taken?
  3. The police will inquire into the cause of the accident.
  4. He inquired after your health yesterday.
  5. I called to inquire about your services.
  6. The lawyer inquired whether his client was present.
  7. The committee will inquire into the company’s practices.
  8. She politely inquired if I needed help.
  • ask, question, request information, interrogate (formal, stronger), investigate, probe.