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
The Louvre was robbed The museum is closed while police investigate.
—
Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
The thieves were wearing construction worker uniforms and hoods over their heads, said an investigator from the Banditry Repression Brigade, a special police unit of the French Ministry of the Interior that investigates robberies and art theft.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025
Police are investigating after a small plane crashed Sunday afternoon near the runway at the Erie Municipal Airport in Weld County, according to the department.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Officers are investigating three unrelated killings in separate areas of Charlotte on Saturday, including two within 15 minutes of each other, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigate
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Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
The thieves were wearing construction worker uniforms and hoods over their heads, said an investigator from the Banditry Repression Brigade, a special police unit of the French Ministry of the Interior that investigates robberies and art theft.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025
Police are investigating after a small plane crashed Sunday afternoon near the runway at the Erie Municipal Airport in Weld County, according to the department.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Officers are investigating three unrelated killings in separate areas of Charlotte on Saturday, including two within 15 minutes of each other, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigate
Cite this Entry
“Investigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigate. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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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