What does inquired mean?
Inquired is the past tense and past participle of inquire, meaning to ask someone for information or request an opinion. It is used in formal, official, or carefully worded contexts: a reporter might say that a person inquired about a policy, while an organization may state that it inquired into a complaint. In its second sense, inquired means investigated a matter systematically, as when a commission inquires into wrongdoing or the causes of an accident. The word is more formal and deliberate than ask, making it especially common in journalism, official statements, legal language, and institutional reports. Although enquiry is often associated with British usage, inquire is standard in American English and is also widely understood in British English. The expression inquire into is particularly established for a formal investigation, whereas inquire about generally means to ask for details concerning something.
verbAsked someone for information or an opinion. In formal contexts, it can also mean to investigate a matter or make a detailed inquiry.
- Asked for information or an opinion.
- Investigated a subject or matter formally and thoroughly.
"The committee inquired into the causes of the delay before publishing its findings."
"Several residents inquired about the proposed development."
"An independent panel inquired into the conduct of the election."
Inquire shares its ancient root with quest: both come from Latin quaerere, “to seek.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inquired come from?
Inquire ultimately comes from Latin quaerere, meaning “to seek” or “to look for.” Its English form developed through Old French and Latin constructions involving quaerere, with the prefix in- contributing the sense of finding out. The same root produced words such as query, quest, acquire, and require.
Related word forms
How inquired is actually used
Inquire is the usual spelling in American English, while enquire is the traditional British spelling, although both forms are accepted in Britain. The verb is formal and often sounds more deliberate or official than the everyday verb ask.
Easily confused with inquired
To inquire is to ask for information, whereas to inspire is to motivate someone or give someone an idea.