investigate

[ in-ves-ti-geyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·ves·ti·gat·ed, in·ves·ti·gat·ing.

1. to examine, study, or inquire into systematically; search or examine into the particulars of; examine in detail.
2. 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)

, in·ves·ti·gat·ed, in·ves·ti·gat·ing.

1. to make inquiry, examination, or investigation.

investigate

/ ɪnˈvɛstɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to inquire into (a situation or problem, esp a crime or death) thoroughly; examine systematically, esp in order to discover the truth

Derived Forms

• inˈvestigable, adjective
• inˈvestigative, adjective

Other Words From

• in·vesti·gative in·ves·ti·ga·to·ry [in-, ves, -ti-g, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• in·vesti·gator noun
• prein·vesti·gate verb preinvestigated preinvestigating
• prein·vesti·gator noun
• quasi-in·vesti·gated adjective
• rein·vesti·gate verb reinvestigated reinvestigating
• unin·vesti·gated adjective
• unin·vesti·gating adjective
• unin·vesti·gative adjective
• unin·vesti·ga·tory adjective
• well-in·vesti·gated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of investigate¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin investīgātus, past participle of investīgāre “to follow a trail, search out”; in- ², vestige, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of investigate¹

C16: from Latin investīgāre to search after, from in- ² + vestīgium track; see vestige

Example Sentences

Southern Housing, which owns the block, told the BBC it does not have any adapted housing that meets Mia’s needs, and that their fire safety specialist is working alongside a lift surveyor and the occupational therapy team at Islington Council “to investigate whether this is possible”.

From BBC

With the support of the local community, the team plans to return to Crooked Tree to investigate a larger sample of these landscape-scale modifications that they have identified across a broad area of northern Belize, hoping to more fully understand the complexity of human-wetland interactions in the past.

From Science Daily

Then they put her through to someone pretending to be from the police, who first promised her help to stop the fraud, then asked her for help to investigate suspected fraud at her local bank branch.

From BBC

She said "anyone can make an allegation and have it taken seriously", adding the force has "thousands" of similar complaints, but does not investigate them all.

From BBC

An Essex Police spokesperson previously said the force "investigate crimes reported to us without fear or favour".

From BBC

Related Words

• consider
• examine
• explore
• inspect
• interrogate
• probe
• question
• review
• scrutinize
• search
• study