inquiry
[noun]
Synonyms:
- investigation, examination, exploration, inquest, interrogation, probe, research, study, survey
- question, query

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Related Words: catechizing, interrogation, questioning, audit, check, examination, inspection, scrutiny, hearing, inquirendo

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English Thesaurus: investigate, look into something, explore, probe, delve, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

in‧quir‧y W2 , enquiry /ɪnˈkwaɪəri $ ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪŋkwəri/ noun (plural inquiries)

1. [countable] a question you ask in order to get information
inquiry about
We’re getting a lot of inquiries about our new London–Rio service.
inquiry from
inquiries from potential applicants
I don’t know who sent the gift, but I’ll make some inquiries.
help the police with their inquiries British English (=to answer questions about a crime)

2. [uncountable] the act or process of asking questions in order to get information:
On further inquiry, it emerged that Malcolm had not been involved in the incident.
The local council set up a committee of inquiry to look into policing arrangements.
scientific/intellectual inquiry

3. [countable] an official process to find out about something
inquiry into
a judicial inquiry into the deaths
launch/set up/hold an inquiry (into something)
The Civil Aviation Authority has agreed to hold an inquiry into the accident.
The police have launched a murder inquiry.
Parents have called for an independent inquiry into the accident.
⇒ line of inquiry at line¹(12)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

inquiry

make an inquiry
The police are making inquiries to discover the cause of the accident.
get/have an inquiry (=receive it)
We’ve already had a lot of inquiries about membership of the new sports centre.
receive an inquiry formal
The television station has received several inquiries from viewers requesting a repeat of the programme.
handle/deal with an inquiry
Staff will be available to deal with inquiries.
answer an inquiry (also respond to an inquiry formal)
The government has not yet answered our inquiry.
a general inquiry
There is a need for a general inquiry into the train company’s safety standards.
a specific inquiry
His job is to answer specific inquiries by individuals or groups.
a written inquiry
I submitted a written inquiry to the local council.
a flood/stream of inquiries
The special offer has produced a flood of inquiries from interested customers.
hold an inquiry
The government has refused to hold an inquiry into the incident.
launch/set up an inquiry (=start it)
Police launched an inquiry yesterday after a man was killed by a patrol car.
an official inquiry
The outcome of the official inquiry will be eagerly awaited.
a public inquiry (=one which is open to members of the public)
MPs are demanding a public inquiry into the explosion at the nuclear power station.
an independent inquiry (=one that is organized by people who are not involved in a situation)
The Labour Party is calling for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the police.
a police inquiry
The case has been reopened with a police inquiry.
a judicial inquiry (=one involving a judge)
Calls for a judicial inquiry into the affair are growing louder.
a government inquiry (=organized by the government)
A government inquiry was set up into discipline in schools.
a murder inquiry
Police say they haven’t launched a murder inquiry at this stage.
an accident inquiry
The accident inquiry revealed that the accident had been caused by human error.
a parliamentary/congressional inquiry (=by Parliament/Congress)
The report of a parliamentary inquiry into the drugs trade is published today.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

inquiry
noun
DUBIOUS: After making several inquiries I finally discovered his address.
GOOD: After making several enquiries, I finally discovered his address.

Usage Note:
In a simple request for information, the usual word is enquiry : 'We've had a lot of enquiries in response to the advertisement.'
When you mean 'a full investigation or a long serious study', the usual word is inquiry : 'a court of inquiry', 'There is to be an official inquiry into the cause of the crash.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

investigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem:
Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre.
The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour.
There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.
look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this:
The manager promised to look into my complaint.
Please could you look into the matter for me?
explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do:
Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism.
I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
probe [intransitive and transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions:
The press began probing into the actor’s private life.
We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change.
delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about:
Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers.
I think we need to delve a little deeper.
be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal:
Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.
investigation a process in which the police or another organization try to find out the truth about a crime or accident:
Following a major police investigation, two men were arrested.
The investigation into the causes of the air crash are continuing.
inquiry an official process to find out why something happened, which usually takes several months or years:
Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.
An independent inquiry found serious shortcomings at the children’s home.
case a matter that police or officials are trying to find out information about, especially so that it can be dealt with in a court of law:
The case has never been solved.
The police say it is one of the most puzzling cases they have had to deal with.
inquest a legal investigation to find out why someone died:
The inquest heard that Mr Swan was poisoned.
survey a process in which people are asked questions in order to find out about their opinions or about their behaviour:
They did a survey to find out the most popular pop star.
Based on a survey of 250 companies, the report says that ‘ over two thirds of companies expect operating costs to increase as a result of addressing environmental issues.
autopsy British English a medical examination of a dead person’s body, to find out why that person died:
If she died of a drug overdose, it would show up in the autopsy.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

investigation a process in which the police or another organization try to find out the truth about a crime or accident:
Following a major police investigation, two men were arrested.
The investigation into the causes of the air crash are continuing.
inquiry an official process to find out why something happened, which usually takes several months or years:
Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.
An independent inquiry found serious shortcomings at the children’s home.
case a matter that police or officials are trying to find out information about, especially so that it can be dealt with in a court of law:
The case has never been solved.
The police say it is one of the most puzzling cases they have had to deal with.
probe an investigation in which many questions are asked to find out the truth about something – used especially in journalism:
The TV show featured a probe into charges charged by high street banks.
inquest a legal investigation to find out why someone died:
The inquest heard that Mr Swan was poisoned.
survey a process in which people are asked questions in order to find out about their opinions or about their behaviour:
They did a survey to find out the most popular pop star.
Based on a survey of 250 companies, the report says that ‘ over two thirds of companies expect operating costs to increase as a result of addressing environmental issues.
autopsy British English a medical examination of a dead person’s body, to find out why that person died:
If she died of a drug overdose, it would show up in the autopsy.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

question something that you ask someone, either when speaking or when writing:
Would anyone like to ask any questions?
I’ve emailed the hotel with one or two questions.
query /ˈkwɪəri $ ˈkwɪri/ especially British English a question that you ask when you are not sure you have understood something or that the information you have is correct:
If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent.
Our staff are always available to answer customers’ queries.
inquiry (also enquiry especially British English) /ɪnˈkwaɪəri $ ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪŋkwəri/ a question you ask in order to get information or find out the details about something:
We’ve advertised the house, and we’ve already received lots of enquiries.
The police have been making some inquiries in the area.
request a polite or formal question asking for something that you want or need:
The bank said ‘no’ to our request for more money.
You must make your request in writing.
ask for to tell someone you want them to give you something:
I’m going to ask for a pay rise.
order to ask for food or drink in a restaurant:
We ordered some more coffee.
Have you ordered yet?
demand to ask for something in a firm way, insisting that someone gives you what you ask for:
They’re demanding immediate payment.
If the goods are faulty, you can demand a refund.
beg/plead to ask for something in an urgent way, because you want it very much and will be very unhappy if you do not get it:
He begged me for some money.
I’m not going to plead for forgiveness.
nag/pester to keep asking someone for something, in an annoying way:
She keeps nagging me for a new phone.
People were pestering him for his autograph.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

question something that you ask someone, either when speaking or when writing:
Would anyone like to ask any questions?
I’ve emailed the hotel with one or two questions.
query /ˈkwɪəri $ ˈkwɪri/ especially British English a question that you ask when you are not sure you have understood something or that the information you have is correct:
If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent.
Our staff are always available to answer customers’ queries.
inquiry (also enquiry especially British English) /ɪnˈkwaɪəri $ ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪŋkwəri/ a question you ask in order to get information or find out the details about something:
We’ve advertised the house, and we’ve already received lots of enquiries.
The police have been making some inquiries in the area.
request a polite or formal question asking for something that you want or need:
The bank said ‘no’ to our request for more money.
You must make your request in writing.
interrogate to keep asking a lot of questions for a long time, sometimes using threats, in order to get information:
He was interrogated by US agents about his alleged links to al-Qaeda.
interview to ask someone questions for a newspaper, TV programme etc, or to ask someone questions to find out if they are suitable for a job, course etc:
Did you hear him being interviewed on ‘the Today Programme’?
The woman who interviewed me offered me the job.
grill informal to ask someone a lot of difficult questions about something, in a way that is tiring or annoying:
She started grilling me about why I was so late coming home.
cross-examine to ask someone a series of questions in court about their previous statements, in order to find out whether they have been telling the truth:
The defence lawyer cross-examined the witness in order to test his evidence.
be helping police with their inquiries British English to be questioned by the police about a crime – used especially in news reports when the police think that this person may be guilty of the crime:
Last night, a 21-year-old woman was helping police with their inquiries.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲