inspect

verb

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in·spect | \ in-ˈspekt

inspected; inspecting; inspects

Definition of inspect

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

Other Words from inspect Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about inspect

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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 Before beginning the deep cleaning process, inspect your mattress for any stains. — Shelby Deering, Country Living, "Here's How to Clean a Mattress (Because Yes, You Need To)," 3 Feb. 2020 Seeking to streamline the company’s supply process, the company shut down a lab in China where shoes were inspected before being exported. — Neil Irwin, New York Times, "How Private Equity Buried Payless," 31 Jan. 2020 The car manufacturer also suggested visiting a local Toyota dealership to have the vehicle inspected before the installation, but confirmed that all owners impacted by the recall will be notified via mail by mid-March. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Toyota Recalls 2.9 Million Cars Over Airbag and Seatbelt Defect — Here’s How to Check Your Car," 22 Jan. 2020 Those who fear bedbug infestations should search for them in mattresses and behind baseboards during daylight hours, eliminate clutter and inspect secondhand furniture before bringing it inside, the company said. — Washington Post, "D.C. ranks No. 1 on ‘Bed Bug Cities’ list, ending Baltimore’s three-year reign," 13 Jan. 2020 Police are analyzing documents, audio and video recordings related to the crash, questioning officials and passengers and inspecting the airport’s infrastructure. — SFChronicle.com, "News of the Day From Around the World," 28 Dec. 2019 And lawmakers said companies must disclose to the public information on flowlines and inspect inactive flowlines before companies can re-activate them for moving oil and gas. — Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, "Thirty months after fatal Firestone blast, Colorado’s widening web of underground pipelines still not fully mapped," 27 Oct. 2019 The outages also probably will not be brief: PG&E has to visually inspect and potentially repair equipment before restoring power, meaning that some areas could be without power for days. — Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: Fire danger and a massive power shutoff in Northern California," 9 Oct. 2019 Even after the weather improves, there can be delays as utilities inspect every line before restoring power. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Outages to deter wildfires burden rural California counties," 27 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inspect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.