investigate

[in-ves-ti-geyt]

verb (used with object)

investigated, investigating 

1. to examine, study, or inquire into systematically; search or examine into the particulars of; examine in detail.

2. to search out and examine the particulars of in an attempt to learn the facts about something hidden, unique, or complex, especially in an attempt to find a motive, cause, or culprit.

   The police are investigating the murder.

verb (used without object)

investigated, investigating 

1. to make inquiry, examination, or investigation.

investigate

/ ɪnˈvɛstɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to inquire into (a situation or problem, esp a crime or death) thoroughly; examine systematically, esp in order to discover the truth

Other Word Forms

• investigative adjective
• investigatory adjective
• investigator noun
• preinvestigate verb
• preinvestigator noun
• quasi-investigated adjective
• reinvestigate verb
• uninvestigated adjective
• uninvestigating adjective
• uninvestigative adjective
• uninvestigatory adjective
• well-investigated adjective
• investigable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of investigate¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin investīgātus, past participle of investīgāre “to follow a trail, search out”; in- ², vestige, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of investigate¹

C16: from Latin investīgāre to search after, from _in- ² + vestīgium track; see _vestige

Example Sentences

He called on the Israeli government to “aggressively investigate.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There are many reasons to love Dana Fox’s 2020 series about a teenage girl whose love of journalism propels her to investigate a local murder.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday told a Senate committee investigating a corruption scandal that has rocked his minority leftist government that its probe was "a circus".

Read more on Barron's

Last week, Beccuau told media that detectives were investigating "150 DNA samples, fingerprints and other traces".

Read more on Barron's

The witness statement by a deputy national security adviser for prosecutors investigating the now-collapsed case of Cash and Berry outlines this kind of work.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• consider 
• examine 
• explore 
• inspect 
• interrogate 
• probe 
• question 
• review 
• scrutinize 
• search 
• study