inspect
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to look carefully at or over; view closely and critically.
to inspect every part of the motor.
- Synonyms:
- study, investigate, scrutinize, examine
-
to view or examine formally or officially.
The general inspected the troops.
verb
-
to examine closely, esp for faults or errors
-
to scrutinize officially (a document, military personnel on ceremonial parade, etc)
Other Word Forms
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")
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Copper Sun
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Boy: Tales of Childhood
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
During his trip, he will also inspect the centuries-old Chola Plates, rings with engraved copper plates, that are being returned to India by Leiden University.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
High-resolution scans allowed Nielsen to closely inspect tiny details that would be difficult to see otherwise.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
The Eastlands went to inspect and discovered, oddly, that the water was not coming from the swelling river.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
Beyond that, Fix said “it’s not cheap but it’s worth it” to get a local mechanic to inspect the car for some peace of mind.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
“Look at them all! They keep coming, like ants at a picnic. I want nothing to do with it, if you please,” she exclaimed, and waddled off to inspect her tulip garden once more.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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.
