examine
Americanverb (used with object)
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to inspect or scrutinize carefully.
to examine a prospective purchase.
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to observe, test, or investigate (a person's body or any part of it), especially in order to evaluate general health or determine the cause of illness.
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to inquire into or investigate.
to examine one's motives.
- Synonyms:
- quiz
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to test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, etc.), as by questions or assigning tasks.
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to subject to legal inquisition; put to question in regard to conduct or to knowledge of facts; interrogate.
to examine a witness;
to examine a suspect.
verb
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to look at, inspect, or scrutinize carefully or in detail; investigate
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education to test the knowledge or skill of (a candidate) in (a subject or activity) by written or oral questions or by practical tests
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law to interrogate (a witness or accused person) formally on oath
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med to investigate the state of health of (a patient)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unexaminableadjective
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examinatorialadjective
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superexaminernoun
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examiningadjective
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well-examinedadjective
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subexaminernoun
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examininglyadverb
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unexaminedadjective
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unexaminingadjective
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preexamineverb (used with object)
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examinernoun
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examinableadjective
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preexaminernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has examinedperfect 3rd person singular
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have examinedperfect
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have been examiningperfect progressive
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examinessingular 3rd person
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examiningparticiple
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has been examiningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are examiningprogressive
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is examiningprogressive 3rd person singular
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am examiningprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had examinedperfect
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examinedparticiple
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was examiningprogressive singular
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were examiningprogressive plural
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had been examiningperfect progressive
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examinedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of examine
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French examiner, from Latin exāmināre “to weigh, examine, test,” equivalent to exāmin- (stem of exāmen examen ) + -āre, infinitive ending
Explanation
The verb examine means to study something carefully and in great detail. You can examine a book, a painting, a person’s face and so on. Right now, you are examining the meaning of examine. Examine means to look at something very closely and usually with the purpose of making a judgment. If you go to see a doctor, the doctor will examine you to see if you are healthy. Examine can also mean “question.” When the police examine a witness, they are questioning that witness. Along these same lines, examine can also be used to mean “test.” You might examine, or test, your friend’s knowledge of biology by asking him repeated questions about that subject.
Vocabulary lists containing examine
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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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.
Specialists in white protective suits worked around the vehicle to examine the corpse before removing it.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Detectives are continuing to gather evidence and examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
"It's not just the medical damage, but the collateral damage for relationships and families that is far greater than people have ever really thought to examine," she adds.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
One goal is to examine human datasets to determine whether similar patterns can be found in people with sleep apnea.
From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026
I open one eye, pull my feet to my chest, and examine the white spots on my toes.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
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.
