inquiring

American  

[in-kwahyuhr-ing] / ɪnˈkwaɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. seeking facts, information, or knowledge.

   an inquiring mind.

2. curious; probing; inquisitive in seeking facts.

   an inquiring reporter.

3. scrutinizing; questioning.

   He looked at his father with inquiring eyes.

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inquiring British  

/ ɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ /

adjective

1. seeking or tending to seek answers, information, etc

   an inquiring mind

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Other Word Forms

• inquiringly adverb
• noninquiring adjective
• noninquiringly adverb
• uninquiring adjective

Etymology

Origin of inquiring

First recorded in 1595–1605; inquire + -ing ²

Example Sentences

This is what the inquiring mind of Hideki Kuriyama, Shohei Ohtani’s former manager, wanted to know.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

“I don’t have my spiel yet!” she warns, inquiring for the first of a few times what I thought of it and whether I enjoyed it.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Within the hour, Stabile said, he got a call from Smith, inquiring about a release plan.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

In the correspondence, Sultan asked, "Should I accept the invitation," before inquiring whether it would be possible to "shake hand with Trump".

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

This cap was a beacon to the inquiring eyes of her family, who during these periods kept their distance, merely popping in their heads semi-occasionally to ask, with interest, “Does genius burn, Jo?”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott