inquire

Meaning

1. (Australia, Canada, US, ambitransitive, intransitive) To ask (about something).
2. (ambitransitive, intransitive) To make an inquiry or an investigation.
3. (ambitransitive, obsolete, transitive) To call; to name.

Synonyms

ask

question

❓

investigate

enquire

interrogate

examine

query

search

probe

explore

request

consider

consult

seek

🔍

quiz

ascertain

inspect

research

ask a question

survey

study

make inquiries

find out

ask about

meditate

implore

detect

look into

ask for

cross-examine

demand

order

say

🗣️

sift

tell

visit

wonder

ask questions

question closely

press

go into

prospect

pry

discuss

quest

discover

cross-question

reconnoiter

reconnoitre

clean up

Translations

demander

vragen

interroger

❓

preguntar

domandare

perguntar

informarsi

fragen

questionner

❓

chiedere

investigar

indagare

interrogare

enquêter

se renseigner

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪnˈkwaɪə/

Etymology

Cognate with Middle English: enqueren

Cognate with Old French: enquerre

Cognate with Middle English: speir

In summary

From Latin inquīrō (“to seek for”), composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“I 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”).