enquireen‧quire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr/ verb [intransitive, transitive] 
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VERB TABLE
enquire
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | enquire |
| he, she, it | enquires | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | enquired |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have enquired |
| he, she, it | has enquired | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had enquired |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will enquire |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have enquired |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am enquiring |
| he, she, it | is enquiring | |
| you, we, they | are enquiring | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was enquiring |
| you, we, they | were enquiring | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been enquiring |
| he, she, it | has been enquiring | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been enquiring |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be enquiring |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been enquiring |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Head whirling, she went into a travel agency and enquired the air fare to Toronto.
- I remember asking my private secretary to enquire what would be the main subjects of our discussion.
- Mr. Chapman enquired of the Board whether the paupers and children should be allowed to have money in the workhouse.
- Only after they were dead, it seemed, did the hierarchy begin to enquire into performance.
- People enquired but there was no trace of it.
- She was a little distracted when Sophie asked permission for her outing, or she might have enquired more closely into the details.
THESAURUSask a question
to speak or write to someone to get an answer: · Did you ask about the price?· They asked me a lot of questions.
formal to ask someone for information about something: · I’m writing to inquire about the job that was advertised in yesterday’s ‘Times’.
especially written to ask a question in a firm or angry way: · ‘Why didn’t you call me?’, she demanded.
to ask someone questions, to find out if they are suitable for a job, or as part of a television or radio interview: · When they interviewed me for the job, they didn’t mention the salary.· David Letterman has interviewed all the stars.
to officially ask a lot of people in order to find out their opinion on something: · Over 1,000 people were polled for the report.· 64% of the people we polled said that they approved of the way the government had handled the crisis.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a bright child with an enquiring mind
especially British English another spelling of inquire a bright child with an enquiring mind (=used on notices on the outside of buildings) Baby rabbits for sale. Enquire within.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB Baby rabbits for sale. Enquire within.· Wherever you spend your time, the most important thing to enquire about is the prospect of obtaining a seat after pupillage.· These are so overwhelming that they stop adults going on to do the courses they applied for or enquired about.· Her age was something, Lucy quickly deduced, that one could not enquire about and expect to survive.· Meticulously she enquired about my health, and we discussed the weather, and a small item of politics.· As long as there were people to greet, families to enquire about, matters to discuss she was happy.
· It may be necessary to enquire how far her lust was excited, or if she experienced any enjoyment.· Roman hadn't even enquired how she was - their lovemaking had already vanished into limbo as far as he was concerned.· The four wrote to enquire how they could best put forward their views inside the Labour Party.· But when the therapist starts to enquire how they react to the problems at home a difference in opinion may be revealed.· Meanwhile, may I enquire how the commission would go about its task?· Following the usual exchanges I enquired how long they'd been there.
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