Investigate: meaning, definitions and examples

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investigate

 

[ ɪnˈvɛstɪˌɡeɪt ]

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

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

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.

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 origin

The word 'investigate' originated from the Latin word 'investigatus', which means 'to track, trace, or investigate'. The term has been used since the 16th century in English, initially in the context of legal inquiries and scientific research. Over time, 'investigate' has become a common term in various fields, including law enforcement, journalism, and academic research, symbolizing the process of thorough examination and inquiry to uncover the truth.

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.