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

For the latest study, the team examined samples from normal mice and compared them with living cortical brain tissue obtained, with permission, from six people undergoing epilepsy surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Read more on Science Daily

It added that, after examining video and navigation data of the drone, it was found that the vehicle was supposed to return to Lithuania after a flight over Belarus.

Read more on Barron's

In a number of cases examined by The Times, defendants were arrested and charged with assault after Border Patrol or ICE agents initiated physical contact.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The team also examined isolated monocytes and used cell culture tests to explore the underlying biological mechanisms in greater detail.

Read more on Science Daily

It’s a neat trick, but Zhao’s film reduces “Hamlet” to a single thing rather than examining it as the multifaceted work that it is.

Read more on Salon

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