investigate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
investigates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
investigated,
past participle, past
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investigating
present participle
-
to examine, study, or inquire into systematically; search or examine into the particulars of; examine in detail.
-
to search out and examine the particulars of in an attempt to learn the facts about something hidden, unique, or complex, especially in an attempt to find a motive, cause, or culprit.
The police are investigating the murder.
verb (used without object)
-
investigates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
investigated,
past participle, past
-
investigating
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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investigatornoun
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preinvestigatornoun
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preinvestigateverb
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reinvestigateverb
-
investigableadjective
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investigativeadjective
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investigatoryadjective
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quasi-investigatedadjective
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uninvestigatedadjective
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uninvestigatingadjective
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uninvestigativeadjective
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uninvestigatoryadjective
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well-investigatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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investigatesimple
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investigatessimple
-
have investigatedperfect
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has investigatedperfect
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am investigatingprogressive
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are investigatingprogressive
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is investigatingprogressive
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have been investigatingperfect progressive
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has been investigatingperfect progressive
Past
-
investigatedsimple
-
had investigatedperfect
-
was investigatingprogressive
-
were investigatingprogressive
-
had been investigatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of investigate
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin investīgātus, past participle of investīgāre “to follow a trail, search out”; see in- 2, vestige, -ate 1
Explanation
To investigate is to look into something systematically. If you don't understand how tornadoes work, for example, investigate the forces of wind and find out. Investigate still acts a lot like the word it comes from, investigationem meaning "a searching into," which came from the Latin for "to track a footprint." It's exactly what you do when you investigate. You can investigate in the name of science, which is to look into something systematically, like when you research how tornadoes work. If you investigate a person, you find out everything you can — and you might need to hire a private eye for help.
Vocabulary lists containing investigate
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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:
The committee does not have the power to sanction the mayor but it can investigate, require answers, expose problems and challenge decisions.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
As Michael and Olivia investigate, they learn that Moondancer was quietly transitioning from public entertainment events to manufacturing AI-driven military/kamikaze drones.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
"Another country could investigate me better and give me asylum. Why didn't they give me that chance? Instead they deported me specifically to Russia," says the deserter.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
SafeSport, a non-profit established to prevent the abuse of athletes and and address misconduct allegations, was dismissed as a defendant in two lawsuits filed by gymnasts that allege the organization did not properly investigate Gardner.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
But one day, her mother had gone to investigate the contents of a blue whale’s stomach.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
This chemical relationship is also important in astrobiology, which investigates the possibility of life beyond Earth and the environmental conditions that could support it, including habitable environments within our Solar System.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
A senior Justice Department official last month invited Shepard to come to Justice Department headquarters and make his case before the Office of Professional Responsibility, or OPR, an internal watchdog that investigates allegations of misconduct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
It starts out pretty well as a shoe-leather detective show, as Neagley investigates the death of an old friend who walked naked into the path of an elevated train.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Slate’s Rebecca Onion investigates why fans are so attached to the show.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
We all pretend to not be paying him any mind: I brush back Layla’s edges, Kayla investigates a sunflower seed, Marisol reads her Suze Orman book, and Janae pretends to be on the phone.
From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi
The MoJ has stated the comments featured in the documentary would be investigated and action taken in line with its policy.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
The team next investigated whether these expandable progenitor cells could be programmed to fight cancer.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
“The Department remains committed to ensuring that all uses of force are thoroughly investigated and evaluated through established administrative review processes and independent oversight,” the department said in an emailed statement to The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
In one example, an unnamed customer was repeatedly connected to fraud schemes and high-risk international payments wires that were being investigated by law enforcement, resulting in more than 100 compliance cases, the filing said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Her partner, Sandy McSouthers, was the only heir she had not investigated.
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
Authorities are investigating a series of letters containing suspicious substances sent to congressional and election offices in several states, US media reported.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
They returned a bit later in the afternoon to interview residents: "They told us they were investigating someone who lived here, but they didn't say anything else."
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it is investigating suspicious mailings—some containing an “unknown substance”—sent to election offices across the country, just weeks before midterm elections.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
However, scientists are still investigating their potential side effects as their use becomes increasingly widespread.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
In a resolution, which cited each of them by name, the council said, “We express our sincere gratitude for the splendid work done in the matter of investigating and bringing to justice the parties charged.”
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
