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⇱ investigate - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


investigate

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪnˈvɛstɪgeɪt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ɪnˈvɛstɪˌgeɪt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(in vesti gāt′)

Inflections of 'investigate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
investigates
v 3rd person singular
investigating
v pres p
investigated
v past
investigated
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•ves•ti•gate /ɪnˈvɛstɪˌgeɪt/USA pronunciation   v., -gat•ed, -gat•ing. 
  1. to look into or examine the particulars of (something) carefully so as to discover something hidden, unique, or complex: [no object]The police were called in to investigate.[+ object]The scientists were investigating the behavior of dolphins.
in•ves•ti•ga•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•ves•ti•gate  (in vesti gāt′),USA pronunciation v., -gat•ed, -gat•ing. 
v.t. 
  1. to examine, study, or inquire into systematically; search or examine into the particulars of;
    examine in detail.
  2. to search out and examine the particulars of in an attempt to learn the facts about something hidden, unique, or complex, esp. in an attempt to find a motive, cause, or culprit:The police are investigating the murder.

v.i. 
  1. to make inquiry, examination, or investigation.
  • Latin investīgātus, past participle of investīgāre to follow a trail, search out. See in-2, vestige, -ate1
  • 1500–10
in•vesti•ga′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
investigate /ɪnˈvɛstɪˌɡeɪt/ vb
  1. to inquire into (a situation or problem, esp a crime or death) thoroughly; examine systematically, esp in order to discover the truth
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin investīgāre to search after, from in-2 + vestīgium track; see vestigeinˈvestigative, inˈvestigatory adj
'investigate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "investigate" in the title:

a bit of an investigate
A committee formed to investigate
A detention to investigate
data necessary to investigate and deal appropriately
do self-reflection/investigate oneself
embedded within the system to investigate the place
Explore and Investigate
Explore/ investigate/ examine the mechanism ...
go out to investigate
Hardly the inspector had arrived to investigate the case when the house was set ablaze.
He has been on a mission <for> his father to investigate~
His office will investigate
I’ve had a chance to investigate personally
inspect / inspection and investigate / investigation
Interesting hypothesis to investigate
investigate (into)
Investigate / explore a possibility?
investigate a person/company
investigate a question
Investigate About Something/someone
investigate doctor over charge baby ...
Investigate him stealing/investigate his stealing
investigate his stealing
"investigate" in business language
Investigate into investigation
investigate more of the preindustrial European population
Investigate suggestions
<investigate> the history of their home
investigate, visit, inspect, or review
Investigate/research
more...

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