enquire

English

Alternative forms

• inquire (chiefly US)

Etymology

Old French enquerre, from en- + querre (“to search, to look for”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪŋˈkwaɪɹ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪŋˈkwaɪə/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪə(ɹ)

Verb

enquire (third-person singular simple present enquires, present participle enquiring, simple past and past participle enquired)

1. (intransitive) To make an enquiry.

   He enquired about the availability of rental bicycles in the town.

2. (transitive, archaic) To ask about (something).
   • 1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], OCLC 868004604, book:

     Having thus at length enquired the truth concerning Law and dispense.

   • 1814, Lord Byron, The Corsair:

     And all obey and few enquire his will.

Usage notes

In the USA, inquire is generally used in place of enquire. Where enquire is used (particularly in the UK), it means a non-official enquiry (such as to ask a question), whereas inquire is used in legal or government context where official transcripts are generated. In the USA, this distinction is not made and inquire is used generally.

Related terms

• enquiry

Translations

to make an enquiry

• Finnish: tiedustella (fi)
• Maori: whakaui, urupounamu, pakirehua

• Scottish Gaelic: faighnich

to ask about (something)

• Finnish: tiedustella (fi)
• Maori: pakirehua

• Scottish Gaelic: faighnich

Anagrams

• inquere