Meaning
Inquire means to ask for information or to investigate something carefully. It is often used in formal or polite contexts, similar to “ask,” but more official or serious in tone.
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: Verb (both transitive and intransitive)
- Transitive: inquire about something (ask for information)
- Intransitive: inquire into something (investigate deeply)
Common structures:
- inquire about + noun (ask for information) → He inquired about the price.
- inquire into + noun (investigate formally) → The police are inquiring into the cause of the fire.
- inquire whether / if + clause → She inquired whether the meeting had been postponed.
Common Phrases
- inquire about a job
- inquire into a matter
- inquire at the desk
- inquire whether...
- make an inquiry
Collocations
- inquire about a position, product, schedule
- inquire into a problem, incident, allegation
- inquire at the counter, the office
- politely / formally inquire
- customer / police inquiry
Examples
- She inquired about the opening hours of the museum.
- I called to inquire whether my order had been shipped.
- The committee will inquire into the recent budget misuse.
- He inquired at the front desk for directions to the hall.
- Reporters are inquiring into the company’s sudden collapse.
- May I inquire about your travel plans?
- The government plans to inquire into the cause of the accident.
- The customer inquired about the availability of the new model.
- We inquired at the hotel reception for a taxi.
- The teacher inquired why the student was absent.
Synonyms or Related
- ask
- question
- request
- investigate
- probe
- examine
Antonym
- ignore
- overlook
- neglect