investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈve-stə-ˌgāt 
investigated; investigating
: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry
: to make a systematic examination
especially
: to conduct an official inquiry
Synonyms
Examples of investigate in a Sentence
The police are still investigating the murder.
The accident was thoroughly investigated.
The manager promised to investigate when we pointed out an error on our bill.
He was investigated for his involvement in the incident.
Recent Examples on the Web
No information about the age and identity of the man was immediately available, Severi said, as officers remained at the scene Friday afternoon investigating the incident.
—
Elise Fisher, Sacramento Bee, 22 June 2024
Unable to take him on the back of their bikes, the gang members dismembered his body with a machete, according to a human rights group investigating the killings.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 June 2024
Naturally, such a law could’ve put an end to Gittes’ line of detective work; investigating and photographing infidelities is his bread-and-butter.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 22 June 2024
Newark police detectives are investigating the shooting.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for investigate 
Elise Fisher, Sacramento Bee, 22 June 2024
Unable to take him on the back of their bikes, the gang members dismembered his body with a machete, according to a human rights group investigating the killings.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 June 2024
Naturally, such a law could’ve put an end to Gittes’ line of detective work; investigating and photographing infidelities is his bread-and-butter.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 22 June 2024
Newark police detectives are investigating the shooting.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for investigate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'investigate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near investigate
Cite this Entry
“Investigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt
investigated; investigating
: to study by close examination and systematic inquiry
Etymology
from Latin investigare "to track, investigate," from in- "in, toward" and vestigium "footprint" — related to vestige
Word Origin
A detective investigating a crime may find the criminal by following clues. In much the same way, a hunter may find game by following tracks. The origins of the word investigate show how fitting it is to compare the detective to the hunter. The Latin word vestigium meant "footprint, track." Joined with the prefix in-, the noun vestigium gave rise to the verb investigare. This word meant both "to track or trace by footprints" and "to study or examine closely." Only the second meaning was kept when the verb was borrowed into English as investigate.
Legal Definition
investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt
investigated; investigating
: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry
specifically
: to make (a criminal suspect) the subject of inquiry and study for the purpose of establishing probable cause
: to make a systematic examination
especially
: to conduct an official inquiry
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