"inquire" means: To make an inquiry or an investigation.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
inquire
(intransitive) To make an inquiry or an investigation.
Seen in the wild
8 citations · last seen May 2026
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
finally have some time for commissions! opening 3 slots for now! for all types! get yourself or gift a loved one some custom human made art today! to inquire email me at the address in the image or DM me here on b…
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BlueskyMay 2026
Im going to inquire about that when I see my doctor next and just hope that helps
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BlueskyMay 2026
You feel her words through the clenches of her inner walls more than you hear them, a mumbled goodbye to your owner as she rushes off before she can inquire about getting you back. Her heartbeat speeds up as she jumps…
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BlueskyMay 2026
May Availability: Time frames are on-call hours at Allegra- make inquiries to 416-655-7401 or myself. Inquire about availability on blank dates (not marked with an X) to me directly. Serena.del.Rey@protonmail.com…
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BlueskyMay 2026
May 2026 Availability: Time frames are on-call hours at Allegra- make inquiries to 416-655-7401 or myself. Inquire about availability on blank dates (not marked with an X) to me directly. Serena.del.Rey@protonmail…
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Definitions
Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS
(intransitive) To make an inquiry or an investigation.
For parents
"inquire" means: To make an inquiry or an investigation.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"inquire" means: To make an inquiry or an investigation.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
Heard in the wild
“✨ Pure Gold. Pure Prestige. ✨ Certified gold for those who value elegance and wealth. 📩 Inquire privately. 💼SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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Australia
#2·Apr 27, 2026AUS
(intransitive, US, Canada, Australia) To ask (about something).
May I inquire to whom I have the honor of speaking?
Origin: From , composed of in- + quaerō, of uncertain origin, but possibly from , from . Displaced (from , of the same source) and native. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Heard in the wild
“finally have some time for commissions! opening 3 slots for now! for all types! get yourself or gift a loved one some custom human made art today! to inquire email me at the address in the image or DM me here on bsky. reposts are appreciated! thank you!”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Im going to inquire about that when I see my doctor next and just hope that helps”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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Australia
#3·Apr 27, 2026AUS
(transitive, obsolete) To call; to name.
May I inquire to whom I have the honor of speaking?
Heard in the wild
“You feel her words through the clenches of her inner walls more than you hear them, a mumbled goodbye to your owner as she rushes off before she can inquire about getting you back. Her heartbeat speeds up as she jumps in her car. (21/23)”
— Bluesky· May 2026“May Availability: Time frames are on-call hours at Allegra- make inquiries to 416-655-7401 or myself. Inquire about availability on blank dates (not marked with an X) to me directly. Serena.del.Rey@protonmail.com 647-795-9045”
— Bluesky· May 2026“May 2026 Availability: Time frames are on-call hours at Allegra- make inquiries to 416-655-7401 or myself. Inquire about availability on blank dates (not marked with an X) to me directly. Serena.del.Rey@protonmail.com 647-795-9045”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Hitting the road to Ohio today! Please feel free to inquire for customs while I’m on the road!”
— Bluesky· May 2026“"We try to avoid this guy at all costs and never really inquire about what his deal is, and then he just went off the rails and forced us into managing his meltdown, guess we were right about avoiding him all along."”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Australia
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Other words near "inquire" (I)
in orderinoritein-outin placeinquest of officeinquirationinquire afterinquire ofinsaneinsane in the membraneinsanguinsaniac
Browse all slang words starting with I.