inspect
Americanverb (used with object)
-
inspects,
present (3rd person singular)
-
inspected,
past participle, past
-
inspecting
present participle
-
to look carefully at or over; view closely and critically.
to inspect every part of the motor.
- Synonyms:
- study, investigate, scrutinize, examine
-
to view or examine formally or officially.
The general inspected the troops.
verb
-
to examine closely, esp for faults or errors
-
to scrutinize officially (a document, military personnel on ceremonial parade, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
inspectabilitynoun
-
inspectionnoun
-
preinspectverb (used with object)
-
reinspectverb (used with object)
-
inspectableadjective
-
inspectionaladjective
-
inspectiveadjective
-
quasi-inspectedadjective
-
self-inspectedadjective
-
uninspectedadjective
-
well-inspectedadjective
-
inspectinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
inspectsimple
-
inspectssimple
-
have inspectedperfect
-
has inspectedperfect
-
am inspectingprogressive
-
are inspectingprogressive
-
is inspectingprogressive
-
have been inspectingperfect progressive
-
has been inspectingperfect progressive
Past
-
inspectedsimple
-
had inspectedperfect
-
was inspectingprogressive
-
were inspectingprogressive
-
had been inspectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of inspect
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin inspectus “looked into,” past participle of inspicere “to look into,” from in in- 2 + -spicere, combining form of specere “to look, regard, see”
Explanation
When you inspect something, you look at it carefully. When you're buying a used car, you should inspect it inside and out, and if you don't know much about what goes on under the hood, you should have a mechanic inspect it, too. Inspect means literally "to look into," and includes the Latin root that you find in lots of other words related to "look" — spectacle, respect, and spectator for instance. If you work in a restaurant, you may see a health department official come to inspect the operation, to make sure everything is clean and the food is stored and cooked properly and that the restaurant doesn't have any health code violations that might make your diners sick.
Vocabulary lists containing inspect
Common Senses: Spec, Spect, Spic ("Look")
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Copper Sun
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Boy: Tales of Childhood
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Orthodox rabbis periodically inspect kosher establishments to ensure that food handling and the food itself comport with kashrut.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Cloudflare operates a globally distributed network instead of centralized data centers, meaning that the company can inspect web traffic and block threats closer to where users are.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
She noted that, since the accident, Network Rail now made far greater use of aerial surveys carried out primarily by helicopter, but also by drones, to inspect the rail system.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
The disaster prompted major international efforts to improve workplace standards, including an agreement between global clothing brands and trade unions to inspect factories and enforce safety measures.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Watching paint dry is a speed sport compared to watching Mr. Woodwell inspect Rose.
From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick
The web infrastructure and security firm inspects online traffic, helps sites load quickly and acts as a tollbooth for AI bots.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
Adalberto Maypora, a well-known character around town, inspects his fishing boat on a deserted beach nestled between cliffs.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
Estyn in Wales and the body that inspects Church of England schools and academies have also both moved away from a single grade approach.
From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026
She trains them to stand stock-still when a judge inspects them nose to tail, or trot in a circle without getting distracted by the crowd.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026
The Beauty Minister rescues me from Du Barry's grip and inspects me.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Briski said Nvidia has seen greater interest in its Nemotron models because they’re U.S.-made, and because their underlying data can be inspected.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Our responsibility would be to make sure that any new track is inspected and safe for operations,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The watchdog said a biological safety team had inspected the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Irkutsk and found no emergency situation there.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Our school would be housed in the Mountain State Spotlight newsroom, which had not been inspected as a school site.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
Miss Lacey’s red painted lips curved up in a wide smile as she inspected me.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Clifford Chikuwe, a taxidermist in Dande, starts each day by inspecting a shaded area where the freshly hunted heads and skins of buffalo, elephants and crocodiles are left to dry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 8, 2026
The paper also carries a photograph of King Charles III inspecting a guard of honour in the Bahamas at the start of his royal visit to the Caribbean.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
Concerns were raised that workers repairing and inspecting rollercoasters at height could result in an "unacceptable perception and loss of privacy for neighbouring occupiers".
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
City crews have also been clearing more than 31,000 catch basins and drainage systems and inspecting and reinforcing vulnerable hillsides and burn areas, including Pacific Palisades, Bass said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
The Trunchbull began a slow march along the rows of desks inspecting the hands.
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
