Explanation at your level:
To examine means to look at something very carefully. You use your eyes to see if something is broken or good. For example, a doctor examines a child to see if they are sick. You can examine a toy to see how it works. It is like a very long look.
When you examine something, you are checking it. You might examine your homework to find mistakes. A teacher might examine your test to give you a grade. It is a useful word when you want to say you are looking for information or checking the condition of an object.
In this level, examine is often used in professional or academic contexts. You might examine a report, examine a theory, or examine a piece of evidence. It implies that you are not just looking, but thinking about what you see. It is a great alternative to the phrase 'take a close look at'.
At this level, you can use examine to describe abstract concepts. We examine the causes of a war, or we examine the implications of a new law. It suggests a systematic approach to discovery. It is more formal than 'check' and more precise than 'investigate'.
Examine is a staple in academic and formal discourse. It denotes a rigorous, analytical process. We examine the validity of an argument or examine the nuances of a literary text. It is often paired with adverbs like 'thoroughly', 'critically', or 'closely'. Using this word shows you are capable of deep, objective analysis.
The usage of examine at the C2 level often touches upon the etymological root of 'weighing' or 'balancing'. One might examine the pros and cons of a philosophical dilemma, or examine the historical context of a political shift. It is a verb of intellectual scrutiny, often used in expert opinions, formal reviews, and high-level research papers where precision is paramount.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to look closely.
- Used in medical, legal, and academic fields.
- Comes from Latin 'to weigh'.
- Must be followed by an object.
When you examine something, you are doing much more than just looking at it. You are putting it under a mental or physical microscope to understand its parts, its health, or its hidden secrets.
Think of a detective at a crime scene. They don't just glance at the room; they examine every inch for clues. Whether you are a doctor checking a patient's pulse or a student reviewing your notes before a big test, you are using this word to show deep focus and purpose.
The word examine has a fascinating journey through time. It comes from the Latin word examinare, which meant 'to weigh' or 'to test'.
In ancient times, an examen was actually the tongue of a balance scale. To examine something literally meant to put it on a scale to see if it was the correct weight. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from physical weight to mental 'weight'—testing the truth or quality of ideas and knowledge.
You will hear examine in both casual and professional settings. It is a 'neutral' word, meaning it works just as well in a biology lab as it does in a court of law.
Commonly, we examine evidence, examine patients, or examine a problem. It sounds more professional than 'look at' but less intense than 'scrutinize'. Use it when you want to sound thoughtful and thorough.
While examine is a standard verb, it appears in many contexts. 1. Examine the evidence: To look at facts before making a choice. 2. Under examination: Currently being tested or watched. 3. Self-examination: Looking inward at one's own feelings. 4. Cross-examine: To question a witness in court. 5. Examine one's conscience: To think honestly about your own moral actions.
Examine is a regular verb. The past tense and past participle are examined, and the present participle is examining. It is almost always used as a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object (e.g., 'I examined the book').
Pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with 'determine' (in some accents) or 'hemin'. Focus on the 'z' sound in the middle!
Fun Fact
The 'examen' was the needle on a scale.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'g' and 'z' sounds.
Similar to UK, stress on second syllable.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'ex-a-mine' (rhyming with mine)
- Missing the 'g' sound
- Putting stress on the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common word
Easy to use
Common
Common
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I examine it.
Present Participle
Examining data.
Past Tense
I examined it.
Examples by Level
The doctor will examine you.
Doctor checks patient
Future tense
I examine the bug.
Look closely at bug
Simple present
Look and examine.
See and check
Imperative
She examines the toy.
She checks the toy
Third person singular
We examine the box.
We check the box
Subject-verb agreement
He examines the map.
He looks at the map
Third person singular
They examine the fruit.
They check the fruit
Simple present
I examine my hand.
I look at my hand
Reflexive context
I need to examine the document.
The mechanic will examine the car engine.
Please examine your answers before finishing.
The teacher examines the student's work.
She examined the painting closely.
We must examine the facts.
The police examine the scene.
He examined the letter for a signature.
The committee will examine the proposal.
We need to examine the root cause of this issue.
The scientist examined the data for patterns.
She examined her conscience before deciding.
The judge examined the evidence presented.
They examined the house for signs of damage.
I examined the options available to me.
The audit will examine the company's finances.
The report examines the impact of climate change.
We must critically examine our own biases.
The expert examined the antique for authenticity.
The study examines how social media affects teens.
He examined the situation from every angle.
The court will examine the witness's testimony.
The board will examine the budget in detail.
We need to examine the long-term effects.
The inquiry seeks to examine the systemic failures.
Scholars continue to examine the nuances of the text.
We must examine the premise of this argument.
The analysis examines the correlation between variables.
He examined the philosophical implications of the choice.
The investigation will examine the chain of events.
She examined the historical records thoroughly.
The paper examines the evolution of the language.
The philosopher examines the nature of human existence.
We must examine the underlying assumptions of the theory.
The critic examines the interplay of light and shadow.
The document examines the geopolitical ramifications.
Experts will examine the validity of the claim.
The study examines the socio-economic factors at play.
He examines the intricacies of the legal code.
The research examines the intersection of art and science.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"under examination"
Being tested or reviewed
The new policy is under examination.
formal"examine one's conscience"
Think about your moral actions
He had to examine his conscience.
neutral"cross-examine"
Questioning a witness
The lawyer began to cross-examine.
formal"examine the small print"
Look at hidden details
Always examine the small print.
neutral"self-examination"
Looking at your own thoughts
Self-examination is healthy.
neutralEasily Confused
It is the noun form
Exam is a test; examine is the action.
I took an exam; I examined the paper.
They are synonyms
Inspect is often for physical objects.
Inspect the house; examine the theory.
Both imply study
Analyze focuses on parts.
Analyze the data; examine the evidence.
Both imply search
Investigate implies a mystery.
Investigate the crime; examine the facts.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + examine + object
I examine the data.
Subject + examine + object + adverb
He examined the map closely.
Subject + will + examine + object
We will examine the case.
Subject + have + examined + object
They have examined the evidence.
It + is + important + to + examine
It is important to examine the facts.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Examine is transitive; it does not take 'to'.
Don't use 'look' and 'examine' together.
You examine the object, not examine for the object.
Again, avoid the preposition 'to' after the verb.
You examine the thing directly.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a scale weighing your thoughts.
Native Speakers
Use it when you want to show you are being thorough.
Cultural Insight
Used often in detective shows.
Grammar Shortcut
No preposition needed after.
Say It Right
Stress the middle syllable.
Don't Add To
It is not 'examine to'.
Did You Know?
It comes from scale needles.
Study Smart
Use it in your writing today.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Ex-amine: Imagine an 'ex' partner 'examining' your life.
Visual Association
A doctor with a stethoscope.
Word Web
Challenge
Examine three items in your room today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To weigh or test on a balance
Cultural Context
None.
Common in medical, legal, and academic settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Medical
- examine the patient
- examine the symptoms
- examine the injury
Academic
- examine the evidence
- examine the theory
- examine the data
Legal
- cross-examine the witness
- examine the documents
- examine the case
Daily Life
- examine the product
- examine the label
- examine the damage
Conversation Starters
"How do you examine a problem before solving it?"
"Have you ever had a doctor examine you for something serious?"
"Do you prefer to examine details or look at the big picture?"
"Why is it important to examine our own biases?"
"What is the most interesting thing you have ever examined?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to examine something very closely.
Why do we need to examine our goals regularly?
Write about a situation where you failed to examine the details.
How does examining a situation change your perspective?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, examine is more detailed.
No, it is incorrect.
Examination.
Yes, it is neutral to formal.
ig-ZAM-in.
Yes, especially doctors.
Yes, in academic contexts.
Yes.
Test Yourself
The doctor will ___ the patient.
Doctors examine patients.
What does examine mean?
It means to look closely.
Examine is a noun.
It is a verb.
Word
Meaning
Synonyms match.
Subject-verb-object order.
Score: /5
Summary
To examine is to look with the intention of understanding, not just seeing.
- Means to look closely.
- Used in medical, legal, and academic fields.
- Comes from Latin 'to weigh'.
- Must be followed by an object.
Memory Palace
Imagine a scale weighing your thoughts.
Native Speakers
Use it when you want to show you are being thorough.
Cultural Insight
Used often in detective shows.
Grammar Shortcut
No preposition needed after.
Example
I need to examine the fruit for bruises before I buy it.
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This Word in Other Languages
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