examine
17 synonyms and 2 antonyms for examine, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To look at or study something closely and carefully.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use examine
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French examiner, from Latin examinare, "to weigh, test, consider carefully."
Full origin of examine →Frequently asked questions
What does “examine” mean?
The word “examine” means to look at or study something closely and carefully. In plain terms, to look at, test, or question something or someone very carefully.
How do you pronounce “examine”?
“Examine” is pronounced ihg-ZA-mihn (/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “examine” in a sentence?
Here is “examine” used in a sentence: “The detective examined the letter for hidden clues.”
What is another word for “examine”?
Words with a similar meaning to “examine” include pore over, undersee, analyze, check, inspect and thresh.
What is the opposite of “examine”?
The opposite of “examine” — its antonyms — are fail to notice and ignore.
What part of speech is “examine”?
“Examine” is a verb.
Where does the word “examine” come from?
The word “examine” comes from Latin. From Old French examiner, from Latin examinare, "to weigh, test, consider carefully.".
Is “examine” a common word?
“Examine” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between examine and inspect?
Examine means to look at or study something closely and carefully to understand it. Inspect usually means to check something formally for faults, quality, or compliance, so inspection is often official and focused on finding problems.
What is the difference between examine and scrutinize?
Both mean to look at something carefully. Scrutinize adds a sense of intense, critical, and detailed attention, whereas examine is more neutral and simply means studying something closely and carefully.
How is examine used in a medical context?
In medicine, examine means to check someone's health or a thing's condition, as when a doctor examines a patient. In this sense the person or body being checked is the direct object, as in "the nurse examined the wound."