investigate

verb

in·ves·ti·gate in-ˈve-stə-ˌgāt

investigated; investigating

Synonyms of investigate next

transitive verb

: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry

intransitive verb

: to make a systematic examination

especially : to conduct an official inquiry

investigation

in-ˌve-stə-ˈgā-shən

noun

investigative

in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tiv

adjective

investigatory

in-ˈve-sti-gə-ˌtȯr-ē

adjective

Example Sentences

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 Charges are pending as detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, according to the news release. —

Mary Carole Mccauley, Baltimore Sun, 29 May 2023 Others investigate the six most important inches in golf — the ones between your ears. —

Brian Mccallen, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2023 The Police Department’s traffic division is investigating. —

Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2023 Jeffersonville Police began investigating the funeral home in early July, and the remains were turned over to the Clark County Coroner's Office, police said then. —

Caleb Wiegandt, The Courier-Journal, 26 May 2023 The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident involving 75 students. —

Fox19 Now, The Enquirer, 26 May 2023 Smith also is investigating Trump’s efforts to block the results of the 2020 election. —

Devlin Barrett, Josh Dawsey, Spencer S. Hsu, Perry Stein, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 25 May 2023 More than 40 athletes from Iowa and Iowa State also were being investigated by the state’s gambling commission. —

Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 25 May 2023 The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. —

Sara Smart, CNN, 25 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'investigate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin investigatus, past participle of investigare to track, investigate, from in- + vestigium footprint, track

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of investigate was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Investigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigate. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

investigate

verb

in·ves·ti·gate in-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt

investigated; investigating

: to study by close examination and systematic inquiry

investigation

-ˌves-tə-ˈgā-shən

noun

investigative

-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt-iv

adjective

investigator

-ˌgāt-ər

noun

investigatory

-ˈves-ti-gə-ˌtōr-ē

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

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.