investigate
verb (used with object)
to examine, study, or inquire into systematically; search or examine into the particulars of; examine in detail.
had investigated
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past perfectof investigate.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
The EU had investigated whether iMessage should also comply with the DMA but ultimately Brussels decided against more rules on the messaging service.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
Until now, no research had investigated whether a traditional placebo could influence abilities that naturally decline with age.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
With that message delivered, most of the lawyers who had investigated the University of California departed the Justice Department.
From Salon ● Dec. 13, 2025
Massa believes that if F1 chiefs had investigated the incident sooner and the result had been annulled, he would have been crowned world champion.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
It was Smith who had first suspected that Lizzie was poisoned, and he who had investigated whether there was a larger conspiracy connected to the family’s oil wealth.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
