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 criticisms were contained in reports into the deaths of 48 migrant workers from Bangladesh, India and Nepal, and centred on the lack of safety provisions made on construction sites, the failure to properly investigate accidents and the speed with which bereaved families are compensated.
—
Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Walz had said the state was investigating alleged fraud and slammed how rhetoric targeting the state's Somali community about the allegations could put people at risk.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Biden administration also investigated fraud there, including theft from Medicaid programs, leading to dozens of arrests and convictions.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
In the early 2000s, the government threw significant firepower behind the initiative, creating specialized units for investigating and prosecuting such fraud.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigate
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Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Walz had said the state was investigating alleged fraud and slammed how rhetoric targeting the state's Somali community about the allegations could put people at risk.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Biden administration also investigated fraud there, including theft from Medicaid programs, leading to dozens of arrests and convictions.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
In the early 2000s, the government threw significant firepower behind the initiative, creating specialized units for investigating and prosecuting such fraud.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigate
Cite this Entry
“Investigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigate. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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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