examine

UK: /ɪgˈzæmɪn/ US: /ɪgˈzæmɪn/ ,(ig zam′in)

Inflections of 'examine' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

examines

v 3rd person singular

examining

v pres p

examined

v past

examined

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•am•ine /ɪgˈzæmɪn/   v. [~ + object] , -ined, -in•ing. 

1. to inspect or look at carefully, closely, or officially so as to judge or discover something:
   to examine merchandise.
2. Medicine to 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.
3. Education to test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, witness, etc.), as by questions:
   to examine each applicant.

ex•am•in•er, n. [countable] See -ag-.
Related Words

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.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•am•ine  (ig zam′in), v.t., -ined, -in•ing. 

1. to inspect or scrutinize carefully:
   to examine a prospective purchase.
2. 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.
3. to inquire into or investigate:
   to examine one's motives.
4. to test the knowledge, reactions, or qualifications of (a pupil, candidate, etc.), as by questions or assigning tasks.
5. Law to 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•a•ble, adj. 
ex•am•i•na•to•ri•al  (ig zam′ə nə tôr′ē əl, -tōr′-), adj.  ex•am′in•er, n. 
ex•am′in•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. search, probe, explore, study.
• 3. quiz.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

examine / ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ verb (transitive)

1. to look at, inspect, or scrutinize carefully or in detail; investigate
2. to test the knowledge or skill of (a candidate) in (a subject or activity) by written or oral questions or by practical tests
3. to interrogate (a witness or accused person) formally on oath
4. to investigate the state of health of (a patient)

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French examiner, from Latin exāmināre to weigh, from exāmen means of weighing; see examen

exˈaminable adjective

exˌamˈinaˈbility noun

exˈaminer noun

exˈamining adjective