investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈve-stə-ˌgāt 
investigated; investigating
: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry
: to make a systematic examination
especially
: to conduct an official inquiry
Examples of investigate in a Sentence
The police are still investigating the murder.
The accident was thoroughly investigated.
The manager promised to investigate when we pointed out an error on our bill.
He was investigated for his involvement in the incident.
Recent Examples on the Web
The constantly shifting allegiances are meant to form a twisty yarn in the aggregate, though the effect is largely just confusing — especially when Helen gets a subplot investigating her own past that distracts from her role as the chilly, withholding boss.
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
Now, officials are investigating why her mom drove them in a rental car from California to Nebraska and why the 9-year-old was apparently wearing a wig in surveillance photos captured earlier this month.
—Michelle Watson, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
The man driving the truck, who has not been publicly identified, was treated for injuries at a hospital and was in custody late Friday afternoon, according to the FBI, the agency investigating the matter.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
The Buckeye Police Department is investigating the police shooting.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
Now, officials are investigating why her mom drove them in a rental car from California to Nebraska and why the 9-year-old was apparently wearing a wig in surveillance photos captured earlier this month.
—Michelle Watson, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
The man driving the truck, who has not been publicly identified, was treated for injuries at a hospital and was in custody late Friday afternoon, according to the FBI, the agency investigating the matter.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
The Buckeye Police Department is investigating the police shooting.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigate
Cite this Entry
“Investigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt
investigated; investigating
: to study by close examination and systematic inquiry
Etymology
from Latin investigare "to track, investigate," from in- "in, toward" and vestigium "footprint" — related to vestige
Word Origin
A detective investigating a crime may find the criminal by following clues. In much the same way, a hunter may find game by following tracks. The origins of the word investigate show how fitting it is to compare the detective to the hunter. The Latin word vestigium meant "footprint, track." Joined with the prefix in-, the noun vestigium gave rise to the verb investigare. This word meant both "to track or trace by footprints" and "to study or examine closely." Only the second meaning was kept when the verb was borrowed into English as investigate.
Legal Definition
investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt
investigated; investigating
: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry
specifically
: to make (a criminal suspect) the subject of inquiry and study for the purpose of establishing probable cause
: to make a systematic examination
especially
: to conduct an official inquiry
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share