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.See corresponding entry in Unabridged search, probe, explore, study.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged quiz.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'examine closely' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):