probing
Americanadjective
noun
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the act or practice of examining, investigating, or exploring something in a deep or searching way.
Constant probing of the night sky by scientists reveals an abundance of activity within our solar system.
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the act of examining or exploring something by means of a probe or any of various instruments, devices, etc..
Probing of the blocked duct was done under anesthesia.
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Computers. the process of scanning a network, database, webpage, web app, etc., in order to obtain information about its structure and any security weaknesses that could be used to launch an attack: undertaken either maliciously by hostile parties, or diagnostically and preventively by those wishing to improve security.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of probing
First recorded in 1660–70; 2000–05 gauging for def. 3; probe ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective sense; probe ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses
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.
But that "magic moment" on a famous night in north London came from centre-back Gabriel as Atletico were probing for a response to Saka's opener.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
Trump told reporters that the suspect, who was detained at the scene, was a California resident and law enforcement agents were probing his home.
From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026
"When you're probing something new, you don't have a lot of data to train AI," Nemenman explains.
From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026
“If This Be Magic” is both a subtle, probing study of their handiwork and a deliciously fresh reading of Shakespeare, a writer adept at “making English do things that English doesn’t do.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
Even with the lovely librarian lurking, I kept to myself so I wouldn’t have to engage in any taxing conversation or answer any probing questions.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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.
