examine

verb

OPAL W

/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they examine	/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
he / she / it examines	/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/ /ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/
past simple examined	/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/ /ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/
past participle examined	/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/ /ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/
-ing form examining	/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/ /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/

Idioms

jump to other results

to consider or study an idea, a subject, etc. very carefully
- examine something This study sets out to examine in detail the possible effects of climate change.
- Her new show critically examines the relationship between the arts and popular culture.
- This important issue must be carefully examined.
- Only recently have historians begun to examine the impact and influence of these changes.
- examine how, what, etc… It is necessary to examine how the proposals can be carried out.
- The weather gave researchers an opportunity to examine what happens to insect numbers when temperatures rise.
see also re-examine
Synonyms examine
examine
- analyse
- review
- study
- discuss
These words all mean to think about, study or describe somebody/something carefully, especially in order to understand them, form an opinion of them or make a decision about them.
- examine to think about, study or describe an idea, subject or piece of work very carefully:
  These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.
- analyse/analyze to examine the nature or structure of something, especially by separating it into its parts, in order to understand or explain it:
  The job involves gathering and analysing data.
  He tried to analyse his feelings.
- review to examine something again, especially so that you can decide if it is necessary to make changes:
  The government will review the situation later in the year.
- study to examine somebody/something in order to understand them or it:
  We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
examine or study?You examine something in order to understand it or to help other people understand it, for example by describing it in a book; you study something in order to understand it yourself.
- discuss to write or talk about something in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it:
  This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter.
Patterns
- to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss what/how/whether…
- to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss the situation/evidence
- to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss something carefully/critically/systematically/briefly
Language Bank about
aboutSaying what a text is about
- The book is about homeless people in the cities.
- The report deals with the issue of homelessness in London.
- The writer discusses the problems faced by homeless people.
- The article presents an overview of the issues surrounding homelessness.
- The novel explores the theme of friendship among homeless people.
- The first chapter examines the relationship between homelessness and drug addiction.
- The paper considers the question of why so many young people become homeless.
Extra Examples
- These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.
- Critically examine your work as if you were looking at someone else's efforts.
- He didn't even bother to examine the note.
- He fails to examine the implications of such a development.
- It is instructive to examine the data we have so far.
- Let us examine the implications of this theory.
- This claim needs to be examined separately.
- We continue to examine new ways of doing business.
Topics Opinion and argumentb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- carefully
- closely
- in detail
- …
verb + examine
- aim to
- attempt to
- be designed to
- …
preposition
- for
phrases
- let us examine…
See full entry
to look at somebody/something closely, to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem
- examine somebody/something The doctor examined her carefully but could find nothing wrong.
- to be examined by a doctor/psychiatrist/specialist/vet
- examine yourself She examined herself closely in the mirror.
- examine something/somebody for something The samples were examined under the microscope for the presence of damaged cells.
- The goods were examined for damage on arrival.
- Investigators examined the room minutely for clues.
Wordfinder
- cure
- doctor
- examine
- medicine
- patient
- practice
- prescribe
- receptionist
- specialist
- surgeon
Synonyms check
check
- examine
- inspect
- go over something
These words all mean to look closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, or acceptable.
- check to look at something closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, safe or acceptable:
  Check your work before handing it in.
- examine to look at somebody/something closely to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem:
  The goods were examined for damage on arrival.
- inspect to look at somebody/something closely to make sure that everything is acceptable; to officially visit a school, factory, etc. in order to check that rules are being obeyed and that standards are acceptable:
  Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them.
  The Tourist Board inspects all recommended hotels at least once a year.
check, examine or inspect?All these words can be used when you are looking for possible problems, but of these three words only check is used for mistakes: Examine/Inspect your work before handing it in. Only examine is used when looking for the cause of a problem: The doctor checked/inspected her but could find nothing wrong. Examine is used more often about a professional person: The surveyor examined the walls for signs of damp. Inspect is used more often about an official: Public health officials were called in to inspect the restaurant.
- go over something to check something carefully for mistakes, damage or anything dangerous:
  Go over your work for spelling mistakes before you hand it in.
Patterns
- to check/examine/inspect/go over (something) for something
- to check/examine/inspect/go over something to see if/whether…
- to check/examine/inspect/go over something carefully/thoroughly
Wordfinder
- biopsy
- diagnose
- examine
- sample
- scan
- swab
- symptom
- test
- ultrasound
- X-ray
Topics Medicineb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- carefully
- closely
- in detail
- …
verb + examine
- aim to
- attempt to
- be designed to
- …
preposition
- for
phrases
- let us examine…
See full entry
[usually passive] (formal) to give somebody a test to see how much they know about a subject or what they can do
- be examined in something The students will be examined in all subjects at the end of term.
- be examined on something You are only being examined on this semester's work.
- be examined The course is externally examined (= arranged and marked by somebody from outside a school, a university or an organization).
examine somebody (law) to ask somebody questions formally, especially in court
- The prosecution examined 20 witnesses.
see also cross-examine

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French examiner, from Latin examinare ‘weigh, test’, from examen ‘examination’.

Idioms

need (to have) your head examined

(informal) to be crazyTopics Personal qualitiesc2