Showing results for inspect. Search instead for Webinspect.

Synonyms

inspect

American

[in-spekt] / ɪnˈspɛkt /

verb (used with object)

to look carefully at or over; view closely and critically.

to inspect every part of the motor.

Synonyms:

study, investigate, scrutinize, examine
to view or examine formally or officially.

The general inspected the troops.

inspect British

/ ɪnˈspɛkt /

verb

to examine closely, esp for faults or errors
to scrutinize officially (a document, military personnel on ceremonial parade, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of inspect

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin inspectus “looked into,” past participle of inspicere “to look into,” from in in- ² + -spicere, combining form of specere “to look, regard, see”

Explanation

When you inspect something, you look at it carefully. When you're buying a used car, you should inspect it inside and out, and if you don't know much about what goes on under the hood, you should have a mechanic inspect it, too. Inspect means literally "to look into," and includes the Latin root that you find in lots of other words related to "look" — spectacle, respect, and spectator for instance. If you work in a restaurant, you may see a health department official come to inspect the operation, to make sure everything is clean and the food is stored and cooked properly and that the restaurant doesn't have any health code violations that might make your diners sick.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing inspect

Common Senses: Spec, Spect, Spic ("Look")

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Copper Sun

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Boy: Tales of Childhood

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was dispatching a team to inspect the damage, calling the incident "deeply concerning".

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

Eventually, the shift toward immigration enforcement reached even beyond ATF’s agents to the industry operations investigators who inspect dealers.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

The initial flashpoint came when Wang made her way over to Korpatsch's side of the court to inspect a ball mark, after the chair umpire ruled her shot had landed beyond the baseline.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Now, Beijing is trying to industrialize something stranger: humanoid robots that can assemble parts, inspect products, move boxes and eventually take on some of the repetitive work still done by humans.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

“Look at them all! They keep coming, like ants at a picnic. I want nothing to do with it, if you please,” she exclaimed, and waddled off to inspect her tulip garden once more.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023