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Investigate: meaning, definitions and examples

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investigate

 

[ɪnˈvɛstɪˌɡeɪt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

research

To carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of a situation or phenomenon.

Synonyms

analyze, examine, explore, inspect, probe.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
investigate

Used when trying to uncover facts or information, especially in legal, criminal, or scientific contexts.

  • The police will investigate the crime scene for clues.
  • Scientists are investigating the effects of the new drug.
examine

Used when looking at something carefully to understand or to find something out, often in medical, academic, or quality control contexts.

  • The doctor will examine the patient for any signs of illness.
  • We need to examine all possible outcomes before making a decision.
explore

Used when looking into something thoroughly to learn more about it, often in the context of discovering new ideas or places.

  • The researchers decided to explore other potential solutions.
  • He loves to explore unknown regions during his travels.
probe

Used when investigating something deeply and thoroughly, often suggesting a more intensive or invasive examination, frequently in detective or scientific contexts.

  • The committee will probe the allegations of misconduct.
  • Astronomers probe the mysteries of the universe.
inspect

Used when looking closely at something for faults or quality, often in contexts of safety, compliance, or quality control checks.

  • The building inspector will inspect the property before it is sold.
  • We need to inspect the goods before they are shipped.
analyze

Used when breaking down information into parts to understand it better, often in academic, scientific, or data-oriented contexts.

  • We'll analyze the data to identify trends.
  • She analyzed the poem to uncover its deeper meaning.

Examples of usage

  • I need to investigate the cause of the problem.
  • The detective will investigate the crime scene thoroughly.
  • She decided to investigate further before making a decision.
  • We must investigate all possible leads to solve this mystery.
  • The committee will investigate the allegations of corruption.
Context #2 | Verb

police work

To search for and gather evidence to establish the truth about a crime or wrongdoing.

Synonyms

delve into, look into, pursue, scrutinize, track.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
investigate

Use in formal situations, especially when referring to police or scientific work. It implies thorough examination and analysis.

  • The police are set to investigate the robbery
  • Researchers will investigate the effects of the new drug
scrutinize

Typically used in formal or serious contexts. It means to examine very closely and critically, often implying skepticism.

  • The auditor will scrutinize the financial records
  • Investors need to scrutinize the company's performance
pursue

Often used when talking about goals or careers, indicating a continuous effort towards achieving something.

  • He decided to pursue a career in law
  • The company will pursue new market opportunities
track

Commonly used when following the progress or movements of something or someone over time. It has technical or casual uses.

  • We can track the shipment online
  • Scientists track wildlife to study their behavior
delve into

Best used in more informal or creative contexts. It suggests a deep and detailed exploration of a subject.

  • She decided to delve into her family history
  • Let's delve into the details of the project
look into

Suitable for informal or everyday situations. It means to examine or check something briefly or superficially.

  • I’ll look into the issue and get back to you
  • The manager will look into your complaint

Examples of usage

  • The police will investigate the robbery that took place last night.
  • They are investigating the disappearance of a valuable artifact from the museum.
  • The authorities are investigating the financial irregularities in the company.
  • The detective agency was hired to investigate the suspicious activities of the employee.
  • We need to investigate the source of these threatening messages.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from Latin 'investigare' which means 'to track' or 'to search.'
  • Originally, it referred to being on the trail of something to uncover hidden information.

Pop Culture

  • Detective stories, from Sherlock Holmes to modern crime dramas, often revolve around the art of investigation.
  • TV shows like 'CSI' and 'Law & Order' have popularized the term, making it synonymous with crime-solving.

Science

  • In scientific research, to investigate can mean conducting experiments to find new truths about nature.
  • Methodical investigation helps in validating theories, leading to advancements in various fields.

Psychology

  • Investigative techniques are crucial in psychology for understanding human behavior and conditions.
  • Clinicians often investigate symptoms to diagnose mental health issues accurately.

Education

  • In schools, students are encouraged to investigate topics through research projects, promoting critical thinking.
  • Inquiry-based learning focuses on encouraging students to explore questions, leading to deeper comprehension.

Translations

Translations of the word "investigate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 investigar

🇮🇳 जांच करना

🇩🇪 untersuchen

🇮🇩 menyelidiki

🇺🇦 розслідувати

🇵🇱 badać

🇯🇵 調査する (chōsa suru)

🇫🇷 enquêter

🇪🇸 investigar

🇹🇷 araştırmak

🇰🇷 조사하다 (josahada)

🇸🇦 تحقيق (tahqiq)

🇨🇿 vyšetřovat

🇸🇰 vyšetriť

🇨🇳 调查 (diàochá)

🇸🇮 raziskovati

🇮🇸 rannsaka

🇰🇿 зерттеу

🇬🇪 გამოძიება (gamodzieba)

🇦🇿 araşdırmaq

🇲🇽 investigar

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,657, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.