interrogate

American  

[in-ter-uh-geyt] / ɪnˈtɛr əˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object)

interrogated, interrogating

1. to ask questions of (a person), sometimes to seek answers or information that the person questioned considers personal or secret.

   Synonyms:

   query

2. to examine by questions; question formally.

   The police captain interrogated the suspect.

3. to analyze (an idea or belief), especially by thoroughly and dispassionately questioning its underlying assumptions.

   The antiwork movement seeks to interrogate the concept of work as we know it today.

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verb (used without object)

interrogated, interrogating

1. to ask questions, especially formally or officially.

   the right to interrogate.

interrogate British  

/ ɪnˈtɛrəˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to ask questions (of), esp to question (a witness in court, spy, etc) closely

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Other Word Forms

• interrogable adjective
• interrogatingly adverb
• interrogee noun
• reinterrogate verb
• uninterrogable adjective
• uninterrogated adjective

Etymology

Origin of interrogate

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin interrogātus, past participle of interrogāre “to question, examine,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + rogā(re) “to ask” + -tus past participle suffix; inter-

Explanation

To interrogate is to ask someone a bunch of questions. Usually, it’s the police, FBI, or other law-enforcement officials who interrogate suspects, but your father-in-law may interrogate you about your career plans. Interrogate comes from the Latin prefix inter-, “between” added to the Latin verb rogare, “to ask.” To interrogate someone is not just asking a few polite questions over a cup of tea. When you interrogate someone there is usually a method to the questioning with a specific mission in mind, like determining a criminal's motive or where she stashed the loot. Your college entrance interview may feel like an interrogation, but their mission is really just to get to know you.

Example Sentences

“When I have party meetings and they bring executives that are likely to be witnesses, I interrogate the executives,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

"We are left to speculate some, as our ability to interrogate insulators stops a little," explained Dean -- their expertise is in transport measurements, and insulators don't transport a current.

From Science Daily • Feb. 5, 2026

There wasn’t a lot of time on set in Budapest for leisure, but the pair would often discuss their work or interrogate upcoming scenes while in their side-by-side makeup chairs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

With such blatant motives, the press can either interrogate this relationship or help legitimize it.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2026

Sergeant Caputo had been watching Hayes interrogate me, and he was not amused.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Related Words

• examine
• grill
• investigate
• query
• quiz