examine

verb

ex·​am·​ine ig-ˈza-mən 

examined; examining ig-ˈza-mə-niŋ 

-ˈzam-niŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to inspect closely

b

: to test the condition of

examining a patient

c

: to inquire into carefully : investigate

examining the accounts

2

a

: to interrogate closely

examine a prisoner

b

: to test by questioning in order to determine progress, fitness, or knowledge

examine a witness

intransitive verb

: to make or give an examination

examinable

ig-ˈza-mə-nə-bəl 

adjective

examiner

ig-ˈza-mə-nər 

-ˈzam-nər

noun

Synonyms of examine

• interrogate
• question

Choose the Right Synonym for examine

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 examine in a Sentence

An accountant has been hired to examine the company's books.

The police examined the evidence carefully.

You should have your eyes examined.

He was examined by several doctors, who found nothing wrong with him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Justice Minister Yariv Levin is attempting to bar Baharav-Miara – also a frequent target of the right wing – from probing the leak, suggesting the attorney general’s own involvement in the case should also be examined. —Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025

To test the disruption theory, the researchers directly examined the effects of beam-plasma instabilities by measuring the jet’s beam profile and associated magnetic field signatures. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025

Security will examine your bags and direct you through the metal detector. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Blue Moon is the other side of the idiosyncratic-artist coin, examining not the airy start of something major but a man bereft of his best collaborator. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French examiner, from Latin examinare, from examen

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing examine

• re-examine

Rhymes for examine

• backgammon
• examen
• glutamine
• famine
• gammon
• mammon
• reexamine

Kids Definition

examine

verb

ex·​am·​ine ig-ˈzam-ən 

examined; examining

1

: to look at or check carefully

examine a company's books

have your eyes examined

2

: to question closely

examine a witness

examiner noun

Medical Definition

examine

verb

ex·​am·​ine ig-ˈzam-ən 

examined; examining -(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

: to inspect or test for evidence of disease or abnormality

the doctor examined the young men and found them in perfect health

intransitive verb

: to make or give an examination

the doctor will examine at the infirmary

Legal Definition

examine

transitive verb

ex·​am·​ine

examined; examining

1

: to investigate or inspect closely

examine the title

compare audit

2

: to question closely especially in a court proceeding compare depose