adj Uncommon

probing

Probing (adj) means searching and thorough, especially when asking questions meant to uncover hidden truths. Example: “The journalist asked probing questions the senator clearly wasn't expecting.”

adj

Searching and thorough, especially when asking questions meant to uncover hidden truths.

"The journalist asked probing questions the senator clearly wasn't expecting."

noun

The act of investigating or examining something closely.

"Years of probing finally revealed the source of the leak."

How to Use Probing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDigging deep to uncover information, or an adjective describing questions/looks that do that.

Common pairings

probing questions probing look

Word Forms

more probing comparative, probings plural, most probing superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “probing” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The journalist asked _____ questions the senator clearly wasn't expecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “probing” mean?

The word “probing” means searching and thorough, especially when asking questions meant to uncover hidden truths. In plain terms, digging deep to uncover information, or an adjective describing questions/looks that do that.

How do you use “probing” in a sentence?

Here is “probing” used in a sentence: “The journalist asked probing questions the senator clearly wasn't expecting.”

What part of speech is “probing”?

Depending on how it is used, “probing” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “probing” a common word?

“Probing” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “probing” have?

“Probing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: searching and thorough, especially when asking questions meant to uncover hidden truths.