inspect
Americanverb (used with object)
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to look carefully at or over; view closely and critically.
to inspect every part of the motor.
- Synonyms:
- study, investigate, scrutinize, examine
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to view or examine formally or officially.
The general inspected the troops.
verb
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to examine closely, esp for faults or errors
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to scrutinize officially (a document, military personnel on ceremonial parade, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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inspectabilitynoun
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inspectionnoun
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preinspectverb (used with object)
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reinspectverb (used with object)
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inspectableadjective
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inspectionaladjective
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inspectiveadjective
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quasi-inspectedadjective
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self-inspectedadjective
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uninspectedadjective
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well-inspectedadjective
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inspectinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inspectsimple
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inspectssimple
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have inspectedperfect
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has inspectedperfect
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am inspectingprogressive
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are inspectingprogressive
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is inspectingprogressive
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have been inspectingperfect progressive
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has been inspectingperfect progressive
Past
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inspectedsimple
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had inspectedperfect
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was inspectingprogressive
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were inspectingprogressive
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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")
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Copper Sun
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Boy: Tales of Childhood
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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:
Even today, pathologists diagnosing disorders such as Alzheimer's disease typically inspect a handful of tissue samples from an organ containing some 86 billion neurons.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
The only way for drivers to know if the parts—or counterfeit versions of them—are even in their cars is to pay to have a mechanic inspect them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
A presidential commission to determine how habitable buildings are has been organizing workshops to prepare engineers and architects to inspect buildings damaged by the earthquakes.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
The state board will inspect Los Padrinos again in August and reassess its suitability.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
“Honey, isn’t it time for you to inspect the children’s rooms? Why don’t you go on up and Earline and I will chitchat about women’s things.”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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
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
It said "immediate action" would give Ofsted the power to check policies on phone use when it inspects schools, and it expected schools to be "phone-free by default" as a result of the announcement.
From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2026
You sense it when Timothea quietly inspects herself in a bathroom mirror, wishing her life was more than it is.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2025
Six minutes later, I’m back at the nurse’s office—in my extra shirt and with a fresh ice pack on my face—while Nurse Finnegan inspects my collar.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Records show Domani inspected construction at the 222 Broadway site in 2023, but the work was separate from the conversion to residential buildings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
It’s unclear how thoroughly the boat, which was documented in Stockton, was maintained or inspected before this week’s voyage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
I contacted my Acme agent, and the company’s adjuster inspected the property.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Of a total of 3,100 buildings in the Chacao municipality, some 1,000 have been inspected so far, and 25 are classified as red.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
He pulled out the card and inspected it over the rim of his glasses.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
“With all of the different regulators inspecting the proposed merger ... I think it helps with a more robust analysis.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Ravencraft recommends buying from a reputable brand and inspecting products purchased online after they arrive to check for the Certified USB logo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Pictures from outside exam centres showed security personnel inspecting candidates' hair, and taking out their earrings.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
The flow of residents to Nabatieh picked up later in the day, with people inspecting their homes and properties as heavy machinery worked to remove rubble and clear roads.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
Thorn got up and ran to it, inspecting it.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
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.
