probe
noun
\
Definition of probe
(Entry 1 of 2)
probe
verbDefinition of probe (Entry 2 of 2)
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for probe
Synonyms: Noun
delving, disquisition, examen, examination, exploration, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, investigation, probation, probing, research, study
Synonyms: Verb
delve (into), dig (into), examine, explore, inquire (into), investigate, look (into), research
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of probe in a Sentence
Noun
The FBI probe did not produce any new evidence. a congressional probe into the accusationsVerb
His questions made it clear he was probing for information. He didn't like the police probing into his past. He didn't like the police probing him about his past. The doctor probed the wound with his finger. Searchers probed the mud with long poles. She probed the files for evidence that would help the investigation.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Mueller's report repeatedly references handwritten notes that Donaldson took about Trump's angry reactions to the unfolding Russia probe. — CBS News, "Former Don McGahn aide blocked by White House from answering questions, House panel says," 9 July 2019 These crewless, robotic probes paved the way for a giant leap forward in space exploration. — Jenny Howard, National Geographic, "A brief history of moon exploration," 5 July 2019 In the four years since he was indicted, Paxton has weathered two federal probes, been investigated and cleared on bribery allegations unrelated to his indictments and celebrated his wife Angela Paxton's Nov. 6 election to the Texas Senate. — Lauren Mcgaughy, Dallas News, "Special prosecutor asks to step down from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's case," 1 July 2019 The Huygens probe, carried by Cassini gave us a first glimpse of the moon’s surface. — Mary Beth Griggs, The Verge, "NASA chooses Saturn’s moon Titan as its next destination," 27 June 2019 Last week, another federal investigation — apparently unrelated to the Burke probe — became public when FBI agents raided the Far South Side ward office of longtime Ald. — Jason Meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Ex-Ald. Willie Cochran set to be sentenced Monday for misusing ward charitable fund," 24 June 2019 To bring the historic image to the world, the 23-person crew had to use a specialized probe, get lucky enough to lure the elusive squid to a camera, then find it among hours and hours of video footage. — nola.com, "Watch: Rare video of giant squid in Gulf of Mexico’s ‘midnight zone’," 23 June 2019 Having reached an agreement with the Justice Department, HJC members will get more of the underlying information from the Mueller probe than seemed likely only a week ago. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "Democrats Are Losing This Made-for-TV Moment," 12 June 2019 Dean, whose congressional testimony in 1973 was key to the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon, has frequently criticized Trump’s actions related to the Russian probe in his role as a CNN contributor. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "Trump attacks ‘sleazebag’ John Dean before testimony," 10 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The 28-year-old Konta had led 4-1 in the first set but succumbed 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 to unseeded Czech 33-year-old Barbora Strycova, prompting some probing questions. — Ben Morse, CNN, "'You're being quite disrespectful and you're patronizing me': tennis star hits back at reporter," 10 July 2019 Hicks was one of five aides formally subpoenaed by the committee - which is probing the obstruction question, among other issues. — Anchorage Daily News, "Former White House aide Hicks agrees to testify to House panel investigating Trump," 12 June 2019 Trust, however, that Toronto would never leave it at that; if Durant steps on the floor, the full extent of his recovery will be tested by a Raptor offense that probes for weakness and a Raptor defense that leaves nothing to chance. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "Kevin Durant Is All That Separates the Warriors From Survival and Defeat," 10 June 2019 Taking as her starting point her own experience as an immigrant to the United States, Segal has built up a body of work that probes how people come to know one another. — Madeleine Schwartz, Harper's magazine, "Warm, Weird, Effervescent," 10 June 2019 Initially, most evidence for mirroring in humans was derived from studies that probed the activity of millions of neurons simultaneously, using techniques such as fMRI, EEG, magnetoencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation. — Quanta Magazine, "How the Brain Links Gestures, Perception and Meaning," 25 Mar. 2019 The black box data recorder devices from Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 are now being sent to investigators in Europe, who will probe what ultimately caused the disaster. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Pilot of Doomed Ethiopian Airlines Flight Reported Control Problems Shortly After Takeoff," 13 Mar. 2019 And the basketball press, namely in the probing work of ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz, has wondered about the morality of a draft. — Wesley Morris, New York Times, "The N.B.A.’s Draft Show Goes On, With Style — Even if It Shouldn’t," 21 June 2019 China has selected nine scientific experiments—including a project that will probe how DNA mutates in space—to fly on its first major space station, scheduled to be completed in 2022. — Elizabeth Gibney, Scientific American, "China Reveals Scientific Experiments for Next Space Station," 19 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'probe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for probe
probe
noun
English Language Learners Definition of probe
(Entry 1 of 2)
probe
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of probe (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for probe in the English Language Learners Dictionary
probe
noun
\
Kids Definition of probe
(Entry 1 of 2)
probe
verbKids Definition of probe (Entry 2 of 2)
probe
noun
\
Medical Definition of probe
(Entry 1 of 2)
probe
verbMedical Definition of probe (Entry 2 of 2)
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on probe
What made you want to look up probe? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Farm Idioms Quiz
-
- What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
-
Farm Idioms Quiz
Not your children's farm quiz.
Take the quiz -
Up in the Sky: A Quiz
It's a bird? It's a plane? No, I'm really asking. What is it?
Take the quiz -
True or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
Take the quiz -
Syn City
Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.
Play the game
Share probe
Resources for probe