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
Reports of drone sightings surged in November and December, prompting government agencies to investigate and politicians to demand answers.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
Homicide detectives are investigating and looking into the possibility of the incident being a domestic dispute, Choon said.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
Walter White, founder of Georgia's NAACP chapter, investigated the killings immediately afterward, interviewing eyewitnesses and providing suspect names to the governor.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
The ghostly ruins, frozen in time, became a tableau that archaeologists have investigated since 1748.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigate
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Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
Homicide detectives are investigating and looking into the possibility of the incident being a domestic dispute, Choon said.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
Walter White, founder of Georgia's NAACP chapter, investigated the killings immediately afterward, interviewing eyewitnesses and providing suspect names to the governor.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
The ghostly ruins, frozen in time, became a tableau that archaeologists have investigated since 1748.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
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 Dec. 2025.
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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