examine
Other forms: examined; examining; examines
The verb examine means to study something carefully and in great detail. You can examine a book, a painting, a person’s face and so on. Right now, you are examining the meaning of examine.
Examine means to look at something very closely and usually with the purpose of making a judgment. If you go to see a doctor, the doctor will examine you to see if you are healthy. Examine can also mean “question.” When the police examine a witness, they are questioning that witness. Along these same lines, examine can also be used to mean “test.” You might examine, or test, your friend’s knowledge of biology by asking him repeated questions about that subject.
Definitions of examine
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observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect“The customs agent examined the baggage”
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synonyms:
see
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types:
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search
subject to a search
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x-ray
examine by taking x-rays
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candle
examine eggs for freshness by holding them against a light
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autopsy
perform an autopsy on a dead body; do a post-mortem
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auscultate
examine by auscultation
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survey
look over carefully or inspect
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glance over, rake, run down, scan, skim
examine hastily
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scan
examine minutely or intensely
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peruse
examine or consider with attention and in detail
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scrutinise, scrutinize, size up, take stock
to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
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look, search
search or seek
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inspect
look over carefully
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check
make an examination or investigation
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go over, review, survey
hold a review (of troops)
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hunt
search (an area) for prey
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raid
search for something needed or desired
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frisk
search as for concealed weapons by running the hands rapidly over the clothing and through the pockets
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strip-search
search (someone) for weapons or drugs by having the person remove their clothes
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scan
make a wide, sweeping search of
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go, rifle
go through in search of something; search through someone's belongings in an unauthorized way
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rummage
search haphazardly
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comb, ransack
search thoroughly
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glass
scan (game in the forest) with binoculars
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flick, flip, leaf, riff, riffle, thumb
look through a book or other written material
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prospect
search for something desirable
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perambulate
make an official inspection on foot of (the bounds of a property)
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case
look over, usually with the intention to rob
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vet
examine carefully
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overlook
watch over
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horn in, intrude, nose, poke, pry
search or inquire in a meddlesome way
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screen, test
test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
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countercheck
check a second time
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breathalyse, breathalyze
test someone's alcohol level in his blood by means of a breathalyzer
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delve
search for something in a receptacle or container
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trawl
search or sift through in order to find something
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consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
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types:
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anatomise, anatomize
analyze down to the smallest detail
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diagnose, name
determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis
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diagnose
subject to a medical analysis
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appraise, survey
consider in a comprehensive way
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survey
make a survey of; for statistical purposes
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compare
examine and note the similarities or differences of
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check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
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assay
analyze (chemical substances)
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reexamine, review
look at again; examine again
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audit, inspect, scrutinise, scrutinize
examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification
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screen
examine methodically
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follow, trace
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
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investigate, look into
investigate scientifically
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sieve, sift
check and sort carefully
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consider, look at, view
look at carefully; study mentally
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process
analyze or examine so as to come to terms with
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explore
examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes
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explore
examine minutely
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delve, explore, research, search
inquire into
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explore
travel to or penetrate into
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analogise, analogize
make an analogy
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collate
compare critically; of texts
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bioassay
subject to a bio-assay
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probe
question or examine thoroughly and closely
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research
attempt to find out in a systematic and scientific manner
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contemplate
look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
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groak
look or stare at longingly
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canvas, canvass, poll
get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions
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follow, keep an eye on, observe, watch, watch over
follow with the eyes or the mind
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experiment
conduct a test or investigation
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question or examine thoroughly and closely
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synonyms:
probe
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types:
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enquire, inquire, investigate
conduct an inquiry or investigation of
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re-examine
question after cross-examination by opposing counsel
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hear, try
examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process
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spy
secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage
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rehear, retry
hear or try a court case anew
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type of:
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investigate, look into
investigate scientifically
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question closely
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types:
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quiz, test
examine someone's knowledge of something
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cross examine, cross question
question closely, or question a witness that has already been questioned by the opposing side
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catechise, catechize
examine through questioning and answering
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grill
examine thoroughly
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put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
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types:
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control, verify
check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard
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float
circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with
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field-test
test something under the conditions under which it will actually be used
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type of:
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evaluate, judge, pass judgment
form a critical opinion of
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control, verify
Pronunciation
US
/ɛgˈzæmɪn/
UK
/ɛgzˈæmɪn/
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘examine'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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