inspect

verb

in·​spect in-ˈspekt 

inspected; inspecting; inspects

transitive verb

1

: to view closely in critical appraisal : look over

2

: to examine officially

inspects the barracks every Friday

intransitive verb

: to make an inspection

inspective

in-ˈspek-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• audit
• check (out)
• con
• examine
• overlook
• oversee
• review
• scan
• scrutinize
• survey
• view

Choose the Right Synonym for inspect

scrutinize, scan, inspect, examine mean to look at or over.

scrutinize stresses close attention to minute detail.

scrutinized the hospital bill

scan implies a surveying from point to point often suggesting a cursory overall observation.

scanned the wine list

inspect implies scrutinizing for errors or defects.

inspected my credentials

examine suggests a scrutiny in order to determine the nature, condition, or quality of a thing.

examined the specimens

Examples of inspect in a Sentence

She had the car inspected by a mechanic before she bought it.

The candles are inspected for damage before being packaged.

After the storm, we went outside to inspect the damage.

He inspected the soldiers' barracks.

inspecting a restaurant for health code violations

Recent Examples on the Web

After retrieving the original from the vault, the team inspected the negative and audio elements and created a repair report before getting to work. —Lise Pedersen, Variety, 16 Oct. 2024

Her professor pressed students to inspect images of planets and ask questions about them. —David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024

David Hester inspects damage to his house after Hurricane Helene made landfall, in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, Sept. 28, 2024. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2024

The suspects returned the following day, around 10 a.m., and were permitted inside and were taken by Murray to inspect the gas leak in the basement, the prosecuting attorney’s office said. —Christine Pelisek, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin inspectus, past participle of inspicere, from in- + specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

inspect

verb

in·​spect in-ˈspekt 

1

: to examine closely (as for judging quality or condition)

inspect meat

2

: to view and examine officially

inspect the troops

Legal Definition

inspect

transitive verb

in·​spect

1

: to view closely and critically

2

: to examine officially

inspect the facility for code violations

intransitive verb

: to make an inspection