examine

[ ig-zam-in ]
See synonyms for examine on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),ex·am·ined, ex·am·in·ing.
  1. to inspect or scrutinize carefully: to examine a prospective purchase.

  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.

  1. to inquire into or investigate: to examine one's motives.

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

  3. 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.

Origin of examine

1
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

Other words for examine

Other words from examine

  • ex·am·in·a·ble, adjective
  • ex·am·i·na·to·ri·al [ig-zam-uh-nuh-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-], /ɪgˌzæm ə nəˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjective
  • ex·am·in·er, noun
  • ex·am·in·ing·ly, adverb
  • pre·ex·am·ine, verb (used with object), pre·ex·am·ined, pre·ex·am·in·ing.
  • pre·ex·am·in·er, noun
  • sub·ex·am·in·er, noun
  • su·per·ex·am·in·er, noun
  • un·ex·am·in·a·ble, adjective
  • un·ex·am·ined, adjective
  • un·ex·am·in·ing, adjective
  • well-ex·am·ined, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use examine in a sentence

  • When he had finished, she took them from his hand, and turning them round in agitated silence, examined their seals and writing.

  • This must have been already examined and considered, if the letters in which I discussed it at length have not been lost.

  • I would have examined the poor man, but the friends kicked up a great row and shoved me off.

    Hunting the Lions | R.M. Ballantyne
  • The rules hereafter given must be carefully studied and every example painstakingly examined.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • A rather large drop is taken upon a slide, covered, and examined with a low power.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for examine

examine

/ (ɪɡˈzæmɪn) /


verb(tr)
  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

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

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

Origin of examine

1
C14: from Old French examiner, from Latin exāmināre to weigh, from exāmen means of weighing; see examen

Derived forms of examine

  • examinable, adjective
  • examiner, noun
  • examining, adjective

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