Meaning & use
examine
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To look at something closely and carefully in order to find out about it or judge its condition.
Grammar: Takes an object: examine the evidence.
Patterns
- examine something for something
The detective examined the footprints.
She examined the fruit for bruises.
Scientists examined the soil samples under a microscope.
verbtransitiveformal
To study an idea or issue in depth in order to understand it.
Grammar: Takes an object such as a question: examine the causes.
Patterns
- examine how something happens
The report examines the causes of the crisis.
The course examines how language changes.
Historians examined the role of trade.
verbtransitivemedical
To test someone's knowledge or ability, or to check a person's body in medicine.
Grammar: Takes a person as the object: examine a patient.
Patterns
- examine someone on something
The doctor examined the patient's throat.
Students will be examined on the first six chapters.
The panel examined each candidate in turn.
Word forms
| third person singular | examines |
|---|---|
| past tense | examined |
| past participle | examined |
| -ing form | examining |
Common combinations
- examine closely
- She examined the coin closely.
- examine the evidence
- The jury examined the evidence.
- examine a patient
- The nurse examined the patient before the doctor arrived.
- carefully examine
- Carefully examine the contract before signing.
- examine the issue
- The committee will examine the issue next month.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inspect
- Inspect usually means a check by an official or professional to see if something meets a standard, while examine can be more general.
- study
- Study suggests learning about something over time, whereas examine is often a focused, one-time look.
- analyze
- Analyze breaks something into parts to explain it, which goes further than just looking closely.
- scrutinize
- Scrutinize is stronger and implies very careful, often critical checking.
Opposites
Word family
- examination noun
- a close inspection or a formal test
- exam noun
- informal short form of examination
- examiner noun
- a person who tests or inspects
- examinee noun
- a person taking a test
Commonly confused: examine or exanimate? examine or inspect?
examine vs exanimate
Exanimate is a rare word meaning lifeless; examine is the common verb for close inspection.
examine vs inspect
Inspect is often used for an official checking against rules, while examine is closer to studying in detail.
Practice
The mechanic will ___ the engine to find the cause of the noise.
Choose one answer.
Examine means to inspect something closely to understand it, which suits finding a fault. Assume would mean guessing without looking.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “examine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.