# investigate

Pronunciation: say "in-VES-ti-gayt" /ɪnˈvɛs.tɪ.ɡeɪt/

## Verb

1. To inquire into or study something carefully in order to establish the facts or gather information.
   - Simple: To look carefully into something to learn the true facts about it.
   - _Researchers investigate the long-term effects of new medications before approval._
   - _The committee investigated the accident and published a detailed report._
2. To examine or scrutinize something closely in order to discover what is hidden or kept secret.
   - Simple: To look closely at something to find out a hidden truth or secret.
   - _Auditors investigate suspicious transactions to expose concealed fraud._
   - _Journalists investigated the company's secret dealings for months._
3. To conduct an inquiry or examination into a matter.
   - Simple: To carry out a careful search for facts or the truth.
   - _The police promised to investigate fully after the complaint was filed._
   - _Inspectors arrived at the factory to investigate following the safety alarm._

## Origin

Recorded since around 1510 as a back-formation from 'investigation', formed with the verb-making suffix -ate. It ultimately comes from Latin 'investīgātiō' ('a searching into'), from the verb 'investīgō' (in- plus vestigate). It displaced the native Old English 'undersēċan', literally 'to search under or between'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/investigate (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).