inspect

verb

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

Ten years ago, a Barneys New York buyer sat on the floor of Joseph Altuzarra’s parents’ Parisian living room, inspecting the designer’s debut collection. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "Joseph Altuzarra Celebrates His Brand’s 10th Anniversary at Barneys New York," 16 Jan. 2019 Leave the sharp objects at home: This sounds obvious, but most sharp objects should be relegated to checked baggage and sheathed or securely wrapped to avoid injuring anyone handling or inspecting the baggage. — Katherine Lagrave, Condé Nast Traveler, "Rules For Flying to Follow So You Don't Get Kicked Off Your Flight," 19 Dec. 2018 More than half of the 160 residents displaced by the fire were relocated to King Greenleaf Recreation Center Officials are inspecting the building for stability Four people were taken to the hospital for injuries that were not life threatening. — Katherine Lam, Fox News, "Man, 74, found alive days after fire rips through DC senior living center," 24 Sep. 2018 And with Thanksgiving only three weeks away, don't forget to inspect your fire extinguisher for any signs of corrosion, missing pull-pins, and/or changes in the pressure gauge. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Why You Need to Check Your Smoke Detectors During Daylight Saving," 2 Nov. 2018 In California, for example, all fireworks shows are inspected and certified by the Office of the State Fire Marshall, which also approves what kinds of fireworks can be used. — Ryan Suppe, USA TODAY, "Drones replace July 4th fireworks in western towns worried about wildfires. But where's the 'boom'?," 3 July 2018 Japan introduced a law after the Kobe quake requiring owners of large buildings such as hotels and hospitals to have their buildings inspected for earthquake resistance. — Anchorage Daily News, "Magnitude 6.1 quake in Japan’s Osaka area kills three, stops factories," 18 June 2018 Topics will include planting, side dressing, companion planting, and how to inspect for squash bug and codling moths. — Courant Community, "Community News For The Glastonbury Edition," 15 May 2018 Until last week, however, churches, community groups and others were not required to have their buses inspected for safety. — The Courier-Journal, "Archives: 1988 reports on bus safety after the Carrollton crash," 14 May 2018

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.