investigate

1 of 2

verb

in·​ves·​ti·​gate in-ˈve-stə-ˌgāt 

investigated; investigating

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

investigation

2 of 2

noun

in·​ves·​ti·​ga·​tion ə̇nˌvestəˈgāshən 

plural -s

1

: the action or process of investigating : detailed examination : study, research

success of the … blend in knitwear has led to active investigation of blends with other fibers

—American Fabrics

a strong movement to make American universities centers of scholarly work and scientific investigation

—J. B. Conant

2

: a searching inquiry : examination, survey

his doctoral thesis was a penetrating investigation of the causes of race conflict

carried on energetic investigations of the medicinal flora of Mexico

—American Guide Series: Michigan

specifically : an official probe

the first Congressional investigation of loyalty in government

—Will Herberg

Synonyms of investigate

Verb

• explore
• examine

Examples of investigate in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

The vessel and crew were safe and authorities are investigating, UKMTO said, advising ships to transit with caution. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Police set up a strike force to investigate Jones after The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported in 2023 that Jones used his position of power, first as a schoolteacher and later as a popular broadcaster, to prey on a number of young men. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

By mid-2019, Brun’s activities had become so well-known on the coconut wireless that Ponce began receiving complaints for not investigating him. — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026

The sheriff’s office’s Criminal Investigations Division began investigating Carroll on July 17 after receiving a report of the alleged crime. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Middle English investigacioun, from Middle French investigation, from Latin investigation-, investigatio, from investigatus (past participle of investigare) + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for investigate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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

Verb

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

transitive verb

: 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

intransitive verb

: to make a systematic examination

especially : to conduct an official inquiry

investigation

in-ˌves-tə-ˈgā-shən 

noun

investigative

in-ˈves-tə-ˌgā-tiv 

adjective

investigator

-ˌgā-tər 

noun

investigatory

in-ˈves-tə-gə-ˌtōr-ē 

adjective