- to look at, inspect, or scrutinize carefully or in detail; investigate
- to test the knowledge or skill of (a candidate) in (a subject or activity) by written or oral questions or by practical tests
- to interrogate (a witness or accused person) formally on oath
- to investigate the state of health of (a patient)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ex•am•ine /ɪgˈzæmɪn/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -ined, -in•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to inspect or look at carefully, closely, or officially so as to judge or discover something: to examine merchandise.
- Medicineto observe, test, or investigate (a person's body or any part of it), esp. in order to discover the state or condition of health or the cause of illness:The doctor examined my eyes.
- Educationto test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, witness, etc.), as by questions:to examine each applicant.
- examine is a verb, examination and exam are nouns:The doctor examined my leg. The doctor's examination was thorough. The math exam was hard.
ex•am•ine
(ig zam′in),USA pronunciation v.t., -ined, -in•ing.
ex•am′in•a•ble, adj.
ex•am•i•na•to•ri•al
(ig zam′ə nə tôr′ē əl, -tōr′-),USA pronunciation adj.
ex•am′in•er, n.
ex•am′in•ing•ly, adv.
- to inspect or scrutinize carefully:to examine a prospective purchase.
- to observe, test, or investigate (a person's body or any part of it), esp. in order to evaluate general health or determine the cause of illness.
- to inquire into or investigate:to examine one's motives.
- to test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, etc.), as by questions or assigning tasks.
- Lawto subject to legal inquisition; put to question in regard to conduct or to knowledge of facts;
interrogate:to examine a witness; to examine a suspect.
- Latin exāmināre to weigh, examine, test, equivalent. to exāmin- (stem of exāmen examen) + -āre infinitive ending
- Middle French examiner
- Middle English 1275–1325
ex•am′in•ing•ly, adv.
- 1. search, probe, explore, study. 3. quiz.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
examine /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ vb (transitive)
'examine' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
analyse
- analysis
- anatomize
- auscultate
- bolt
- candle
- catechize
- censor
- check
- collate
- comb out
- compare
- control
- cross-examine
- cross-question
- diagnose
- dissect
- drill down
- explore
- feel
- fine-tooth comb
- go into
- go over
- go through
- immigration
- inquest
- inscrutable
- inspect
- interrogate
- investigate
- laparoscope
- look over
- mammography
- manipulate
- optician
- optometrist
- overhaul
- palpate
- peruse
- probe
- psychoanalyse
- quiz
- rake
- ransack
- reprove
- review
- run over
- run through
- scan
- aeroscepsy