Meaning of examine in English
Table of contents
Verb
examineEtymology
Middle English: from Old French examiner, from Latin examinare‘weigh, test’, from examen‘examination’Definitions
1. consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaningExamples
- « analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare »
- « analyze the evidence in a criminal trial »
- « analyze your real motives »
Derived terms
- 2. observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect
Examples
- « The customs agent examined the baggage »
- « I must see your passport before you can enter the country »
Derived terms
- 3. question or examine thoroughly and closely
Derived terms
- 4. question closely
Derived terms
- 5. put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
Examples
- « This approach has been tried with good results »
- « Test this recipe »
Derived terms
Famous quotes
- « I never wanted to do biography just to tell the life of a famous man. I always wanted to use the life of a man to examine political power, because democracy shapes our lives. » Robert Caro
- « Medicine to produce health must examine disease and music, to create harmony must investigate discord. » Plutarch
- « Popular art is the dream of society it does not examine itself. » Margaret Atwood
- « I find that it's hard to fully examine one's life and not have faith be part of the discussion. » J. J. Abrams
- « If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience. » Woodrow Wilson