examine

[ig-zam-in]

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.

examine

/ 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)

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of examine¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of examine¹

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

Example Sentences

Much of the existing research on personalized algorithms examines how they influence opinions about politics or social issues that people already know at least something about.

Read more on Science Daily

To better understand how ATP functions in this area, the team examined signaling patterns in the hippocampus and how they changed under stress.

Read more on Science Daily

The second season of HBO’s “The Rehearsal” takes aim at the commercial aviation industry, examining barriers to pilot mental health and troubling relationship dynamics in the cockpit that could pose threats to airplane safety.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She was part of an expert commission that examined 211 recent murders of women for common characteristics, then drafted the femicide law.

Read more on BBC

Third, we will register with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser, which will grant the commission authority to examine our work.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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