Meaning & use
inspect
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To look at something closely and carefully in order to find faults or learn its condition.
Grammar: Takes an object: inspect the engine. Often followed by for something you hope not to find.
Patterns
- inspect something for something
- inspect something carefully
- inspect something before doing something
The mechanic inspected the brakes before returning the car.
She inspected the fruit for bruises before buying it.
Please inspect the package for damage when it arrives.
verbtransitiveformal
To officially visit and check a place, a person's work or a group, to make sure standards or rules are being followed.
Grammar: Used for official checks: the health department inspects restaurants.
Patterns
- inspect a school/factory/restaurant
- be inspected by someone
Health officers inspect the restaurant twice a year.
The general inspected the troops at dawn.
The school will be inspected by government officials next month.
Word forms
| third person singular | inspects |
|---|---|
| past tense | inspected |
| past participle | inspected |
| -ing form | inspecting |
Common combinations
- inspect carefully
- Inspect the tires carefully before a long trip.
- inspect for damage
- The workers inspected the roof for damage after the storm.
- inspect a building
- An engineer came to inspect the building.
- closely inspect
- The customs officer closely inspected the suitcase.
- inspect regularly
- Machines are inspected regularly to prevent accidents.
Synonyms and how they differ
- examine
- Examine is a little broader and covers thinking about details, tests or evidence, while inspect usually suggests checking for flaws.
- check
- Check is shorter and less formal, and can be quick, while inspect suggests a thorough look.
- scrutinize
- Scrutinize suggests extremely detailed examination, often with suspicion, so it is stronger than inspect.
- survey
- Survey means looking at a whole area or situation, not at details for faults.
Opposites
Word family
- inspection noun
- a careful check or official visit
- inspector noun
- a person whose job is to inspect things
- inspectorate noun
- an official body of inspectors
- uninspected adjective
- not having been checked
Commonly confused: inspect or inspire?
inspect vs inspire
Inspire means to fill someone with the wish to do something, while inspect means to examine something closely.
Practice
A building inspector is paid to ___ houses for safety problems.
Choose one answer.
Inspect means to check carefully for faults. Inspire sounds similar but means to motivate, and decorate and prepare do not describe the checking role.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “inspect”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.