probe

noun \ ˈprōb \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: probe in a Sentence

Definition of probe

1 : a slender medical instrument used especially for exploration (as of a wound or body cavity)

2 a : any of various testing devices or substances: such as

(1) : a pointed metal tip for making electrical contact with a circuit element being checked

(2) : a usually small object that is inserted into something so as to test conditions at a given point

(3) : a device used to penetrate or send back information especially from outer space or a celestial body

(4) : a device (such as an ultrasound generator) or a substance (such as radioactively labeled DNA) used to obtain specific information for diagnostic or experimental purposes

b : a pipe on the receiving airplane thrust into the drogue of the delivering airplane in air refueling

3 a : the action of probing

b : a penetrating or critical investigation

c : a tentative exploratory advance or survey

See probe defined for English-language learners

See probe defined for kids

Examples of probe in a Sentence

The FBI probe did not produce any new evidence.
a congressional probe into the accusations

Recent Examples of probe from the Web

Supporters would cite it as another reason why Robert Mueller's Russia probe is a massive distraction.

— stephen collinson, CNN, "History beckons for Trump and Kim," 11 June 2018
Rosenberger resigned in April amid the FBI probe into his lavish lifestyle, including his travel.

— chrissie thompson, Cincinnati.com, "FBI visits luxury condo owned by heiress and rented by former Ohio Speaker Rosenberger," 9 June 2018
On June 3rd the government began a probe into tax compliance in the entertainment industry.

— The Economist, "A tax-evasion scandal ensnares Chinese film-production companies," 7 June 2018
The payments, which were disclosed last month, came amid a widening probe into Michael Cohen, Trump’s attorney, and have mushroomed into an enormously embarrassing scandal for the drug maker.

— ed silverman, STAT, "Swiss attorney general will not pursue bribery charges against Novartis for payments to Trump lawyer," 6 June 2018
The Atlanta probe is the first criminal investigation under the state sunshine law since it was amended in 2012 to include criminal penalties.

— j. scott trubey, ajc, "AG: Atlanta City Hall does not face criminal charges in records probe," 5 June 2018
McCaskill has also criticized Hawley’s handling of investigations into former Gov. Eric Greitens, specifically a probe into the former governor’s use of a private messaging app that concluded without finding any evidence of wrongdoing.

— bryan lowry, kansascity, "Missouri AG Hawley says it's an 'open question' whether Trump can pardon self," 4 June 2018
Giuliani said last week that the special counsel probe may be an ‘‘entirely illegitimate investigation’’ and need to be curtailed because, in his estimation, it was based on inappropriately obtained information from an informant and Comey’s memos.

— jonathan lemire, BostonGlobe.com, "Giuliani says Trump and his legal team will fight any subpoena," 3 June 2018
Unless Mueller has evidence so astounding even Sean Hannity draws a breath, the special counsel probe could also be a political winner for Trump.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Is the World Done With Liberal Democracy?," 1 June 2018

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of probe

Medieval Latin proba examination, from Latin probare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1580

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

probe Synonyms

Synonyms

delving, disquisition, examination, exploration, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, investigation, probation, probing, research, study;

Related Words

quest;

audit, check;

checkup, diagnosis, inspection;

hearing, interrogation, trial;

feeler, query, question;

poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey;

challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz;

rehearing, reinvestigation;

self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching;

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

probe

verb

Definition of probe

probed; probing

transitive verb

1 : to search into and explore very thoroughly : subject to a penetrating investigation

2 : to examine with a probe

unmanned vehicles probed space

intransitive verb

: to make a searching exploratory investigation

—

prober

noun

See probe defined for English-language learners

Examples of probe in a Sentence

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 of probe from the Web

Her answers to their gently probing questions feel vague and half-formed, keeping the illusion going while leaving plenty of room for doubt.

— justin chang, latimes.com, "Andrea Riseborough brings complexity to an emotional void in the melancholic 'Nancy'," 7 June 2018
At least two fatal accidents are now being probed by the National Transportation Safety Board.

— NBC News, "After flubbing a Consumer Reports recommendation, Tesla makes amends," 22 May 2018
And so, every crash is dealt with quickly, its causes probed by federal regulators and — once determined — fixes put in place.

— tom keane, BostonGlobe.com, "Our sense of danger needs a reality check.," 17 May 2018
By now you are probably used to the probing questions your doctor asks during your annual checkup.

— kristina davis, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Don't be surprised if your doctor asks you about guns," 15 Apr. 2018
While his team held its training camp, Konstantinov spent another couple of weeks being prodded and probed by military physicians, who could neither confirm nor dispute the diagnosis of the doctors at the cancer clinic.

— keith gave, Detroit Free Press, "Russian Five: How Konstantinov faked cancer to join Detroit Red Wings," 26 Mar. 2018
Potential contacts with WikiLeaks have been probed by federal investigators examining whether allies of President Donald Trump coordinated with Russians seeking to tilt the 2016 race.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Roger Stone claimed contact with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2016, according to associates," 13 Mar. 2018
It's been probing the planet's interior weather, going 30 to 45 miles (50 to 70 kilometers) below Jupiter's cloud tops.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Raging Cyclones and Jet Streams on Jupiter Perplex Scientists," 9 Mar. 2018
In 2013, former Colorado tight end Nick Kasa said he was probed about his relationship status.

— mike jones, USA TODAY, "NFL must punish teams for insensitive questioning of draft prospects," 8 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of probe

circa 1543

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

probe Synonyms

Synonyms

delve (into), dig (into), examine, explore, inquire (into), investigate, look (into), research;

Related Words

inspect, sift, study, view;

browse, cruise, peruse, scan, skim (through), surf, thumb (through);

Phrases

check into, check up on;

Synonym Discussion of probe

enter, penetrate, pierce, probe mean to make way into something. enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

- entered the city in triumph

penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

- the enemy penetrated the fortress

pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

- pierced the boil with a lancet

probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

- probed the depths of the sea

PROBE Defined for English Language Learners

probe

noun

Definition of probe for English Language Learners

: a careful examination or investigation of something
: a thin, long instrument that is used especially for examining parts of the body

probe

verb

Definition of probe for English Language Learners

: to ask a lot of questions in order to find secret or hidden information about someone or something
: to touch or reach into (something) by using your finger, a long tool, etc., in order to see or find something
: to look into or examine (something) carefully

PROBE Defined for Kids

probe

noun \ ˈprōb \

Definition of probe for Students

1 : a slender instrument for examining a cavity (as a deep wound)

2 : a careful investigation

probe

verb

Definition of probe for Students

probed; probing

1 : to examine with or as if with an instrument

2 : to investigate thoroughly

Medical Dictionary

probe

noun \ ˈprōb \

medical Definition of probe

1 : a surgical instrument that consists typically of a light slender fairly flexible pointed metal instrument like a small rod that is used typically for locating a foreign body (as a bullet embedded in a part of the body), for exploring a wound or suppurative tract by prodding or piercing, or for penetrating and exploring bodily passages and cavities

2 : a device (as an ultrasound generator) or a substance (as radioactively labeled DNA) used to obtain specific information (as detection of a virus or location of specific segments of a nucleic acid) for diagnostic or experimental purposes