probe

American  

[prohb] / proʊb /

verb (used with object)

• probes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• probed,
  past participle,  past
• probing
  present participle

1. to search into or examine thoroughly; question closely.

   to probe one's conscience.

   Synonyms:

   scrutinize, investigate

2. to examine or explore with or as if with an instrument.

   The dentist probed the offending tooth.

   She keeps probing her ear with a cotton swab.

---

verb (used without object)

• probes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• probed,
  past participle,  past
• probing
  present participle

1. to examine or explore a matter thoroughly (sometimes followed byinto ).

   The checklist consists of a series of questions carefully designed to probe into all aspects of your business.

   The cross-examiner probed a little more before dismissing the witness.

2. to explore or search with or as if with an instrument.

   You may have to probe with the rod until you find the mouth of the pipe.

noun

• probes
  plural

1. an act or instance of probing.

2. an investigation, especially by a legislative committee, of suspected illegal activity.

3. a tool or instrument designed for examining something, especially a slender surgical instrument for exploring the depth or direction of a wound, sinus, or the like.

4. Aerospace. space probe.

5. a projecting, pipelike device on a receiving aircraft used to make connection with and receive fuel from a tanker aircraft during refueling in flight.

6. a device, attached by cord to an oven, that can be inserted into roasts or other food so that the oven shuts off when the desired internal temperature of the food is reached.

7. Biology. any identifiable substance that is used to detect, isolate, or identify another substance, as a labeled strand of DNA that hybridizes with its complementary RNA or a monoclonal antibody that combines with a specific protein.

probe British  

/ prəʊb /

verb

1. (tr) to search into or question closely

2. to examine (something) with or as if with a probe

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noun

1. something that probes, examines, or tests

2. surgery a slender and usually flexible instrument for exploring a wound, sinus, etc

3. a thorough inquiry, such as one by a newspaper into corrupt practices

4. electronics a lead connecting to or containing a measuring or monitoring circuit used for testing

5. electronics a conductor inserted into a waveguide or cavity resonator to provide coupling to an external circuit

6. any of various devices that provide a coupling link, esp a flexible tube extended from an aircraft to link it with another so that it can refuel

7. See space probe

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prober
  noun
• reprobe
  verb
• probeable
  adjective
• unprobed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• probes
  plural

Participles

• probing
  present
• probed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• probe
  simple
• probes
  simple
• have probed
  perfect
• has probed
  perfect
• am probing
  progressive
• are probing
  progressive
• is probing
  progressive
• have been probing
  perfect progressive
• has been probing
  perfect progressive

Past

• probed
  simple
• had probed
  perfect
• was probing
  progressive
• were probing
  progressive
• had been probing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will probe
  simple
• will have probed
  perfect
• will be probing
  progressive
• will have been probing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of probe

First recorded in 1555–65; (noun) from Medieval Latin proba “examination,” Late Latin: “test,” derivative of probāre “to try, test, prove” ( see proof ( def. ), prove ( def. )); (verb) partly derivative of the noun, partly from Latin probāre

Explanation

If you probe something, you investigate it thoroughly. If you go into business with someone, you might probe her finances to make sure that she has a good track record. Although it is usually used as a verb — "the police probed the man’s disappearance" — it can also be used as a noun to describe an information-gathering device. In 1979 the United States launched the world's first space probe into outer space. It was a spacecraft rigged with cameras, which were used to photograph Jupiter and Saturn.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

probe probes probed probing

In Walter’s case, the probe focuses on $20 billion of investments by Delaware Life and Clear Spring that weren’t properly marked as affiliated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

By using a trapped calcium ion as a microscopic probe, the team has now observed the effect experimentally for the first time and measured its behavior in greater detail.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

"This is pretty deep here," she says, reading the markings on the probe.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

As the Senegalese engineers assemble their satellite -- wearing hairnets and white gloves as they probe a miniature black box, small enough to be held with one hand -- two destinations have become a priority.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

But the woman began to probe his foot, calling commands.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

In 2024, the US said Russia had launched a satellite which it believed may be capable of attacking other such probes.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

To investigate the effect, the team used specialized microscope probes to map the shape of the wrinkles and measure local electrical energy and current.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

The lightning-quick sale of the Lakers to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner comes as Mark Walter faces federal probes into allegedly conflicted insurance loans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

Arday announced on August 5 that he was resigning from both his university post as a professor and as a fellow of Jesus College, shortly after they announced probes into the various accusations.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

But when the wires were fastened to her own neural connectors, and the probes reached into her heartbeat and instinct, that's when she opened her mouth.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

Phillips was additionally probed by the House Ethics Committee for allegedly hiring a girlfriend to intern in Collins’ office.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026

Walter’s system is now being probed by federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission, including whether the connections were properly disclosed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

"This was the first time that shock-compressed diamond was probed with X-ray diffraction all the way up to melting," said Millot.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

After pinning Azan Awais with his first ball, the seamer probed Masood's outside edge from round the wicket before switching the angle of his attack in his third over.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

For a decade after graduating from college he probed his soul for signs of a divine calling while earning his keep as a country schoolteacher and then apprentice lawyer.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Investigators are probing factors that may have contributed to the crash, including the plane’s speed, the weather and runway safeguards.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Investigators are still probing the accident but a preliminary report in April pointed to communication failures and a lack of proper equipment.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Instead of gently probing nuclei, researchers collide them at the highest energies available and reconstruct their shapes from the patterns left behind.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

Internet would-be sleuths have popped up in Zach’s comments on social media this week, probing Brian’s behavior and previous conduct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

I expect Niles to keep probing, but he doesn’t.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

• check out
• delve into
• dig
• examine
• inquire
• interrogate
• penetrate
• poke
• scrutinize
• sift
• verify