examine

American  

[ig-zam-in] / ɪgˈzæm ɪn /

verb (used with object)

examined, examining

1. to inspect or scrutinize carefully.

   to examine a prospective purchase.

   Synonyms:

   study, explore, probe, search, scrutinize, inspect

2. to observe, test, or investigate (a person's body or any part of it), especially in order to evaluate general health or determine the cause of illness.

3. to inquire into or investigate.

   to examine one's motives.

   Synonyms:

   quiz

4. to test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, etc.), as by questions or assigning tasks.

5. to subject to legal inquisition; put to question in regard to conduct or to knowledge of facts; interrogate.

   to examine a witness;

   to examine a suspect.

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examine British  

/ ɪɡˈzæmɪn /

verb

1. to look at, inspect, or scrutinize carefully or in detail; investigate

2. education to test the knowledge or skill of (a candidate) in (a subject or activity) by written or oral questions or by practical tests

3. law to interrogate (a witness or accused person) formally on oath

4. med to investigate the state of health of (a patient)

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Other Word Forms

• examinable adjective
• examinatorial adjective
• examiner noun
• examining adjective
• examiningly adverb
• preexamine verb (used with object)
• preexaminer noun
• subexaminer noun
• superexaminer noun
• unexaminable adjective
• unexamined adjective
• unexamining adjective
• well-examined adjective

Etymology

Origin of examine

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French examiner, from Latin exāmināre “to weigh, examine, test,” equivalent to exāmin- (stem of exāmen examen ) + -āre, infinitive ending

Explanation

The verb examine means to study something carefully and in great detail. You can examine a book, a painting, a person’s face and so on. Right now, you are examining the meaning of examine. Examine means to look at something very closely and usually with the purpose of making a judgment. If you go to see a doctor, the doctor will examine you to see if you are healthy. Examine can also mean “question.” When the police examine a witness, they are questioning that witness. Along these same lines, examine can also be used to mean “test.” You might examine, or test, your friend’s knowledge of biology by asking him repeated questions about that subject.

Example Sentences

In her book, she used her story as a lens to examine the conditions that allow misconduct and abuses of power to flourish.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

The event brought WSJ columnists and influential thought leaders together to examine where the nation stood and what lay ahead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The team says this is the first time sonar mapping and satellite imagery have been brought together in this way to examine Lough Neagh and "attempt to quantify the range of potential impacts".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The findings suggest that future surveys, which will examine large numbers of exoplanets, could use statistical techniques to detect life across entire populations of planets.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

She waited to examine it until she was ten blocks from the barracks.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• audit
• check
• check out
• consider
• criticize
• delve into
• explore
• inspect
• investigate
• ponder
• pore over
• probe
• read
• research
• review
• scan
• screen
• scrutinize
• study
• survey