examine
Americanverb (used with object)
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examines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
examined,
past participle, past
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examining
present participle
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to inspect or scrutinize carefully.
to examine a prospective purchase.
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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.
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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.
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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
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to look at, inspect, or scrutinize carefully or in detail; investigate
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education to test the knowledge or skill of (a candidate) in (a subject or activity) by written or oral questions or by practical tests
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law to interrogate (a witness or accused person) formally on oath
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med to investigate the state of health of (a patient)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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examinernoun
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preexaminernoun
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subexaminernoun
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superexaminernoun
-
preexamineverb (used with object)
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examinableadjective
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examinatorialadjective
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examiningadjective
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unexaminableadjective
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unexaminedadjective
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unexaminingadjective
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well-examinedadjective
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examininglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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examinesimple
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examinessimple
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have examinedperfect
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has examinedperfect
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am examiningprogressive
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are examiningprogressive
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is examiningprogressive
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have been examiningperfect progressive
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has been examiningperfect progressive
Past
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examinedsimple
-
had examinedperfect
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was examiningprogressive
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were examiningprogressive
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had been examiningperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
The verb examine means to study something carefully and in great detail. You can examine a book, a painting, a person’s face and so on. Right now, you are examining the meaning of examine. Examine means to look at something very closely and usually with the purpose of making a judgment. If you go to see a doctor, the doctor will examine you to see if you are healthy. Examine can also mean “question.” When the police examine a witness, they are questioning that witness. Along these same lines, examine can also be used to mean “test.” You might examine, or test, your friend’s knowledge of biology by asking him repeated questions about that subject.
Vocabulary lists containing examine
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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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.
See Examples For:
She suggested that Schroeder examine some of the undescribed specimens as part of her dissertation, according to the news release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
Wada has started one study and is preparing another to examine the effects of the drugs in conditions designed to mimic high-level exercise.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
The NIS added that it was continuing to examine whether Kim Ju Ae has an older brother, but believes that "even if he exists, he is not in a position to become the successor".
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Researchers are also investigating whether AP503 could have applications in other diseases and are continuing to examine the receptor's wider functions throughout the body.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
I set the box on the cot and stepped away so that he could examine it closer.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
People are commonly greeted by wishing that their names be inscribed in the Book of Life—because on Rosh Hashanah God examines our past deeds and determines our individual fates for the following year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
The LZ collaboration examines its experimental results in batches.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026
BBC Verify examines Flock's system and the growing backlash against it - as Jake Horton reports.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
The course work can include classes that take a critical and historical approach to AI, said Todd Presner, a professor of European languages and transcultural studies who examines how Holocaust history is presented online.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
He cleans the oozing blisters, examines them for infection.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
The RQIA's first phase report was published in November 2022 and examined the records of 44 deceased patients, while in a second phase a further 25 families came forward and those records were subsequently reviewed.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
A spokeswoman for the company said it hasn’t examined the latest proposal but supports environmental protections and state regulations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
"These cases which have been examined… only come to 69 and that is only about 1-2% of the total number," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
To investigate, the researchers examined several prostate cancer cell lines and studied which cellular pathways changed when TP53 and RB1 were missing.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
Nali’s hands fidgeted while the pawnbroker examined the turquoise watch bracelet.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
After the BBC investigation, several Indian agencies including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the National Human Rights Commission have said they are examining the matter.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The research, published recently in Science Signaling, builds on a line of research from Gary Patti's laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis examining how fructose affects the liver and other parts of the body.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
But the problem with that is, when you’re always examining the finer details, you miss the bigger, beautiful picture.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
Scientists have been examining the August 26 catastrophe, dubbed a "Himalayan tsunami" by Nepal's foreign minister.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
"Y'know, I can see straight through to your brain," Jasmine said, pretending to still be examining.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
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.
