investigate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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)
verb
Other Word Forms
- investigable adjective
- investigative adjective
- investigator noun
- investigatory adjective
- preinvestigate verb
- preinvestigator noun
- quasi-investigated adjective
- reinvestigate verb
- uninvestigated adjective
- uninvestigating adjective
- uninvestigative adjective
- uninvestigatory adjective
- well-investigated adjective
Etymology
Origin of investigate
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin investīgātus, past participle of investīgāre “to follow a trail, search out”; in- 2, vestige, -ate 1
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.
On Tuesday, England director of Rob Key confirmed he would investigate the behaviour of players in the coastal town of Noosa during their break from the series between the second and third Tests.
From BBC
President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently digesting the contents of an interim report from a commission he established to investigate illegality within the police.
From BBC
Detectives began investigating allegations into Mr Brand which came to light following reporting from the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4's Dispatches in September 2023.
From BBC
Scotland's justice secretary Angela Constance is to be investigated over whether she breached the ministerial code in her remarks about a grooming gangs expert.
From BBC
In October, the Metropolitan Police said it would no longer investigate NCHIs to allow officers to "focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations".
From BBC
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.
