verb

enquire

in-KWY-uhr

Enquire (verb) means to ask someone for information about something. Example: “She rang to enquire about the vacancy.”

verb

To ask someone for information about something.

"She rang to enquire about the vacancy."

"He enquired whether the fee included insurance."

formal To investigate something formally, usually as part of an official examination of what happened.

"A committee was appointed to enquire into the causes of the collapse."

How to Use Enquire

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo ask for information.

When to use it

Slightly formal; in everyday British speech people usually just say ask.

Memory tip

Both spellings are pronounced identically, so the choice only matters in writing.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

enquire vs inquire enquiry vs inquiry

Common pairings

enquire about enquire into enquire after please enquire within

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She rang to _____ about the vacancy.

Etymology

From Old French enquerre, from Latin inquirere "to seek into", from in- and quaerere "to seek".

Origin: French

Synonyms

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ask query request information seek investigate look into probe examine

Related Words

tell try question ask answer search doubt attempt

Rhymes for enquire

ire fire wire tire lire dire hire mire sire afire Zaire spire

See all rhymes for enquire →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between enquire and inquire?

In British usage many writers reserve enquire for ordinary asking and inquire for formal investigations, as in a public inquiry. American English uses inquire for both, and British style guides increasingly accept the two spellings as interchangeable.

Which preposition follows enquire?

Use "about" for asking after information, "after" for asking about someone's health, and "into" for a formal investigation: enquire about the price, enquire after your mother, enquire into the accident.

Is enquiry or inquiry correct?

Both are correct nouns and follow the same split. British writers tend to write an enquiry at a shop counter but a public inquiry into a disaster; Americans write inquiry throughout.

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