inspect

verb

in·​spect in-ˈspekt How to pronounce inspect (audio)
inspected; inspecting; inspects

transitive verb

1
: to view closely in critical appraisal : look over
2
: to examine officially
inspects the barracks every Friday
inspective adjective
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Advertisement On Saturday, Acevedo, a spry and agile senior, moved quickly to inspect the orchard. Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024 Lift the mattress to inspect the underneath side and the slats, rails and platform corners of the bed frame. Sydney Borchers, Fox News, 12 Nov. 2024 Regular Tick Checks Thoroughly inspect your dog’s fur after outdoor activities, especially after going into tick-prone environments. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024 Before heading outdoors, our testers began by inspecting the quality of materials and construction, noting any unique features, number of entry points, and the overall durability for each sleeping bag. Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inspect 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of inspect was circa 1623

Dictionary Entries Near inspect

Cite this Entry

“Inspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inspect. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

inspect

verb
in·​spect in-ˈspekt How to pronounce inspect (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on inspect

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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