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
The investigating state trooper noted that the weather was clear and the road was dry at the time of the crash.
—
Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 10 Nov. 2025
Relief pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom were suspended by Major League Baseball this past season as the league investigated accusations of pitch rigging, were indicted on charges of fraud, conspiracy and bribery, federal prosecutors announced Sunday.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Police are investigating a homicide after a body was found near a heavily trafficked area of a Nevada County park.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Our heavily armored alien menace starts taking out drug cartel goons and making a mess, and a couple of cops (Danny Glover and Bill Paxton) plus an unhinged DEA agent (Gary Busey) are on the case to investigate.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigate
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Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 10 Nov. 2025
Relief pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom were suspended by Major League Baseball this past season as the league investigated accusations of pitch rigging, were indicted on charges of fraud, conspiracy and bribery, federal prosecutors announced Sunday.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Police are investigating a homicide after a body was found near a heavily trafficked area of a Nevada County park.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Our heavily armored alien menace starts taking out drug cartel goons and making a mess, and a couple of cops (Danny Glover and Bill Paxton) plus an unhinged DEA agent (Gary Busey) are on the case to investigate.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Nov. 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 11 Nov. 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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