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investigate Definition

in·ves·ti·gate (in ves′tə gāt′)

transitive verb -·gat′ed, -·gat′·ing

to search into so as to learn the facts; inquire into systematically

Etymology: < L investigatus, pp. of investigare, to trace out < in-, in + vestigare, to track < vestigium, a track

intransitive verb

to make an investigation

investigate Related Forms

in·ves′·ti·ga·ble (-gə bəl) adjective

investigate Synonyms

investigate

v.

inquire into, look into, review; see examine 1, study 1.

investigate Usage Examples

Object

  • complaint: The Council do not investigate complaints about customer service or quality or food price.
  • possibility: BK to investigate possibilities for inviting a musician to play.
  • allegation: Fishery Officers investigated allegations of unauthorized mussel fishing in Swansea Bay taking place outside of designated Private ( Several ) fisheries.
  • feasibility: Objective: To investigate the feasibility of providing pharmaceutical care to individual patients in primary care.
  • incident: We also investigate incidents which affect, or could affect, drinking water quality.
  • murder: Death's Shadow: Barnaby and Troy are called to investigate the murder of wealthy property developer.

Subject

police: Rare bird eggs theft investigated The theft of up to 36 rare bird eggs from an Essex country park is being investigated by police.

Modifying Another Word

  • thoroughly: All complaints will be thoroughly investigated by the Clerk to the Panel.
  • experimentally: In her current research she investigates experimentally how people learn to coordinate on esthetic concepts.
  • properly: No evidence was found to show that the employe's allegation had been properly investigated internally.
  • fully: Any complaint You may have shall be fully investigated.
  • empirically: We conclude by discussing how such a model will be investigated empirically in future research.
  • extensively: Abstract Using cognitive architectures to analyze the usability of human-computer interfaces is an extensively investigated strategy.

Used with why or when

  • why: UNISON, NOF and fpa investigate why the greatest ever investment in the NHS isn't reaching community services.
  • which: We will investigate which of these possibilities are correct in the research we propose here.
  • what: Investigate what an online degree can do for you.

Infinitive complement

determine: Administrative sources will be investigated more generally to determine whether they can be used in the compilation of the population estimates.

Preposition: in

detail: These ideas are investigated in greater detail through use of the computer package ` ` Exploring Small Groups ' ' .

Preposition: for

fraud: The scheme is being investigated for fraud among subcontractors.

Preposition: by

police: Rare bird eggs theft investigated The theft of up to 36 rare bird eggs from an Essex country park is being investigated by police.