examine
ihg-ZA-mihn
Examine (verb) means to look at or study something closely and carefully. Example: “The students examined the insect carefully under a microscope.”
verb
1
To look at or study something closely and carefully.
"The students examined the insect carefully under a microscope."
"Before buying the old chair, she examined the legs for any cracks."
"The detective examined the letter for hidden clues."
2
To check someone's health or a thing's condition.
"The doctor examined my throat and then listened to my chest."
"A mechanic will examine the brakes before the car passes its inspection."
"The vet examined the dog's leg for any sign of a fracture."
3
To test someone's knowledge or skills formally.
"The teacher will examine us on irregular verbs on Friday morning."
"Candidates are examined orally in a foreign language as part of the course."
"Students are examined at the end of every term."
4
To question someone closely, especially in a legal setting.
"The barrister examined the expert witness about his earlier written report."
"Defence counsel will examine each witness in turn when the hearing resumes."
"The lawyer examined the witness for nearly an hour."
How to use examine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo look at, test, or question something or someone very carefully.
Common pairings
examine closely
examine a patient
examine the evidence
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Word forms
- Plural
- examines
- Third person singular
- examines
- Past tense
- examined
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The students _____ the insect carefully under a microscope.
Etymology
From Old French examiner, from Latin examinare, "to weigh, test, consider carefully."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
fail to notice
ignore
Related words
Rhymes for examine
See all rhymes for 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."
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