examine
Americanverb (used with object)
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examines,
present (3rd person singular)
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examined,
past participle, past
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examining
present participle
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to inspect or scrutinize carefully.
to examine a prospective purchase.
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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.
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to inquire into or investigate.
to examine one's motives.
- Synonyms:
- quiz
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to test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, etc.), as by questions or assigning tasks.
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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.
verb
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to look at, inspect, or scrutinize carefully or in detail; investigate
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education to test the knowledge or skill of (a candidate) in (a subject or activity) by written or oral questions or by practical tests
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law to interrogate (a witness or accused person) formally on oath
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med to investigate the state of health of (a patient)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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examinernoun
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preexaminernoun
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subexaminernoun
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superexaminernoun
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preexamineverb (used with object)
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examinableadjective
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examinatorialadjective
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examiningadjective
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unexaminableadjective
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unexaminedadjective
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unexaminingadjective
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well-examinedadjective
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examininglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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examinesimple
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examinessimple
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have examinedperfect
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has examinedperfect
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am examiningprogressive
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are examiningprogressive
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is examiningprogressive
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have been examiningperfect progressive
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has been examiningperfect progressive
Past
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examinedsimple
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had examinedperfect
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was examiningprogressive
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were examiningprogressive
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had been examiningperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing examine
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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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.
See Examples For:
The NIS added that it was continuing to examine whether Kim Ju Ae has an older brother, but believes that "even if he exists, he is not in a position to become the successor".
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Researchers are also investigating whether AP503 could have applications in other diseases and are continuing to examine the receptor's wider functions throughout the body.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
The Swedish migration minister told the BBC that the government will "examine whether there are measures we can take to make the process easier for those affected" by some consequences of the EU-UK withdrawal agreement.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The team includes a meteorologist who will examine the weather conditions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Aldo rushed forward to examine my blue ribbon.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
Dr. Kiyoko Ishiwata, a veterinarian and surgeon at the Simi Valley Non-Profit Spay and Neuter Clinic, examines a cat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
New research from Constructor University neuroscientist Dr. Radwa Khalil examines the science behind this apparent contradiction.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026
In a statement, deputy public defender Walid Kandeel said Burke "is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence".
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Touch some grass: From the archives: Ben Mathis-Lilley examines the pleasures and benefits of getting out and mowing the lawn.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026
He examines my face and says, “Is it the videos that have you looking so… serious?”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
"We need to know the very worst about Michael Watt's practice and we will not do so until all of these cases are examined," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
His stories have often examined how big technology companies and the people within them grapple with the power and impact of artificial intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
The RQIA's first phase report was published in November 2022 and examined the records of 44 deceased patients, while in a second phase a further 25 families came forward and those records were subsequently reviewed.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Participants were followed through the end of 2021, and medical records were examined for diagnoses of all-cause dementia.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
Shock rippled through Ella as she examined the beautifully stitched portrait of Jason's gigantic family.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
After the BBC investigation, several Indian agencies including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the National Human Rights Commission have said they are examining the matter.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The numbers look even worse when examining the degree of satisfaction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The research, published recently in Science Signaling, builds on a line of research from Gary Patti's laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis examining how fructose affects the liver and other parts of the body.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
But the problem with that is, when you’re always examining the finer details, you miss the bigger, beautiful picture.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
The glittering green eyes, examining Jeremy as carefully as he was examining their owner, looked like a pair of intelligent emeralds.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
