examine
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to inspect or scrutinize carefully.
to examine a prospective purchase.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
to look at, inspect, or scrutinize carefully or in detail; investigate
-
education to test the knowledge or skill of (a candidate) in (a subject or activity) by written or oral questions or by practical tests
-
law to interrogate (a witness or accused person) formally on oath
-
med to investigate the state of health of (a patient)
Other Word Forms
- examinable adjective
- examinatorial adjective
- examiner noun
- examining adjective
- examiningly adverb
- preexamine verb (used with object)
- preexaminer noun
- subexaminer noun
- superexaminer noun
- unexaminable adjective
- unexamined adjective
- unexamining adjective
- well-examined adjective
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
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.
It’s all part of the tapestry of your life and you’re not really examining your life until somebody does that for you and you go, “Oh, man. I’m old.”
From Los Angeles Times
These studies examined how exercise compared with no treatment or control conditions, as well as with psychological therapies and antidepressant drugs.
From Science Daily
Looking ahead, the research team plans to examine whether repeated exercise sessions lead to long-lasting biological changes.
From Science Daily
The study also highlights the need to examine whether pests have developed resistance or detoxification strategies when biological pesticides are used.
From Science Daily
In a recent study, the research team examined whether vibrating specific tendons could lower the perceived effort of cycling.
From Science Daily
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.
