Investigate: Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：look into (investigate)

investigate 🔊

/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/

to look into something carefully to find out what happened or the truth.

Investigate meaning illustrated by a detective examining a footprint with a magnifying glass.

look into 🔊

➕

/lʊk ˈɪntuː/

To carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of a situation.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'investigatus', meaning to search into. In- (into) + vestigare (to track, trace).

💡 Mnemonic

Break it down: IN-VEST-igate. You INVEST time and effort to open the GATE to the truth.

📖 Example

The school principal decided to investigate the missing library books to find out who took them. 🔊 The school principal decided to look into the missing library books to find out who took them.

🔗 Collocations

investigate a crime – to conduct an official examination into a criminal act

investigate thoroughly – to examine something in a comprehensive and detailed manner

under investigation – being officially examined or inquired into

🔄 Synonyms

examine (v.) – to inspect or scrutinize carefully

probe (v.) – to inquire deeply into

scrutinize (v.) – to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

🚫 Antonyms

ignore (v.) – to refuse to take notice of or acknowledge

overlook (v.) – to fail to notice or consider

neglect (v.) – to fail to care for or give proper attention to

🌱 Derivatives

investigation (n.) – the process of investigating something or someone

investigative (adj.) – relating to or characterized by investigation

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'investigate' comes from the Latin 'investigare', meaning 'to search after' or 'to track out'. Its root 'vestigium' means 'footprint' or 'track'. This origin reflects the classic image of a detective following clues, evolving to mean any systematic inquiry into facts.