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
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
In 2007, after reporting from the Tampa Bay Times, a grand jury investigated Pinellas County buying land from the property appraiser; that grand jury’s 22-page report was critical of how the office was run.
—
Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Many of those cases are still being investigated.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Police have not declared the incident to be a terror attack, but are investigating a claim of responsibility by a group with potential links to Iran.
—Monica Alba, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Dallas Police are investigating a security incident in the 8600 block of North Central Expressway.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigate
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Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Many of those cases are still being investigated.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Police have not declared the incident to be a terror attack, but are investigating a claim of responsibility by a group with potential links to Iran.
—Monica Alba, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Dallas Police are investigating a security incident in the 8600 block of North Central Expressway.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigate
Cite this Entry
“Investigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigate. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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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