inquiring


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.

in·quire

 (ĭn-kwīr′)
v. in·quired, in·quir·ing, in·quires
v.intr.
1. To seek information by asking a question: inquired about prices.
2. To make an inquiry or investigation: inquire into the extent of the corruption.
v.tr.
1. To ask, especially politely or formally: The host inquired why we were leaving so soon. See Synonyms at ask.
2. To ask questions about (something); investigate or analyze: economists inquiring whether markets behave differently during a recession.
Phrasal Verb:
inquire after
To ask about the health or condition of (someone).

[Middle English enquiren, from Old French enquerre, from Vulgar Latin *inquaerere, alteration of Latin inquīrere : in-, into; see in-2 + quaerere, to seek.]

in·quir′er n.
in·quir′ing·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

inquiring

(ɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ)
adj
seeking or tending to seek answers, information, etc: an inquiring mind.
inˈquiringly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.inquiring - a request for informationinquiring - a request for information    
asking, request - the verbal act of requesting
challenge - questioning a statement and demanding an explanation; "his challenge of the assumption that Japan is still our enemy"
enquiry, query, question, inquiry, interrogation - an instance of questioning; "there was a question about my training"; "we made inquiries of all those who were present"
interrogatory, examination, interrogation - formal systematic questioning
Adj.1.inquiring - given to inquiry; "an inquiring mind"
curious - eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns); "a curious child is a teacher's delight"; "a trap door that made me curious"; "curious investigators"; "traffic was slowed by curious rubberneckers"; "curious about the neighbor's doings"
uninquiring, uninquisitive - not inquiring
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

inquiring

enquiring
adjective inquisitive, interested, curious, questioning, wondering, searching, probing, doubtful, analytical, investigative, nosy (informal) This helps children develop an inquiring attitude to learning.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

inquiring

also enquiring
adjective
Eager to acquire knowledge:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

inquiring

[ɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ] ADJ [mind] → inquieto, inquisitivo; [look] → inquisitivo
she looked at me with inquiring eyesme miró con expresión inquisitiva or de interrogante
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

inquiring

[ɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ] adj [look, glance] → interrogateur/trice
She gave him an inquiring glance → Elle lui lança un regard interrogateur.
to have an inquiring mind → avoir l'esprit curieux, faire preuve de curiosité d'esprit
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

inquiring

, enquiring
adjfragend; mindforschend
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

inquiring

[ɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ] adj (mind) → pieno/a di curiosità; (look) → interrogativo/a, indagatore/trice
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
I took the freedom one day, after we had talked pretty close to the subject, to tell him that it was true I had received the compliment of a lover from him, namely, that he would take me without inquiring into my fortune, and I would make him a suitable return in this, viz.
No man of common-sense will value a woman the less for not giving up herself at the first attack, or for accepting his proposal without inquiring into his person or character; on the contrary, he must think her the weakest of all creatures in the world, as the rate of men now goes.
At this meeting she had her full revenge of him; for she told him she wondered what he took her to be, that she should admit any man to a treaty of so much consequence as that to marriage, without inquiring very well into his circumstances; that if he thought she was to be huffed into wedlock, and that she was in the same circumstances which her neighbours might be in, viz.
After these things this young lady played her part so well, that though she resolved to have him, and that indeed having him was the main bent of her design, yet she made his obtaining her be to him the most difficult thing in the world; and this she did, not by a haughty reserved carriage, but by a just policy, turning the tables upon him, and playing back upon him his own game; for as he pretended, by a kind of lofty carriage, to place himself above the occasion of a character, and to make inquiring into his character a kind of an affront to him, she broke with him upon that subject, and at the same time that she make him submit to all possible inquiry after his affairs, she apparently shut the door against his looking into her own.
THE two brightest lights of Theosophy being in the same place at once in company with the Ashes of Madame Blavatsky, an Inquiring Soul thought the time propitious to learn something worth while.
Mercury appeared to him just as he hoped he would; and having learned the cause of his grief, plunged into the stream and brought up a golden axe, inquiring if he had lost it.
On inquiring by SC, chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) told the court FBR has constituted committee and reviewed 20 persons.
Stalin also thanked President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and others for inquiring about the health of his father and party President M.