in ‧ ves ‧ ti ‧ gate W2 AC /ɪnˈvestəɡeɪt, ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ investigation , investigatory; adjective : ↑ investigative , ↑ investigatory ; verb : ↑ investigate ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of investigare 'to follow the track of' , from vestigium 'track' ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem:
The state police are investigating the incident.
The study investigates the impact of violent TV programming on children.
I heard a noise and went downstairs to investigate.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often say look into something rather than investigate something:
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I’ll ask my colleague to look into it.
2 . [transitive] to try to find out more about someone’s character, actions etc, because you think they may have been involved in a crime:
Penney was already being investigated by the police on suspicion of murder.
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THESAURUS
▪ investigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem:
Police are investigating an explosion in the city centre.
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The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour.
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There were fears he may have drowned in the lake, so divers were sent down to investigate.
▪ look into something to find out more about a problem, especially after someone has asked you to do this:
The manager promised to look into my complaint.
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Please could you look into the matter for me?
▪ explore to consider or discuss something, in order to help you decide what you should do:
Military leaders are exploring new ways of defending the United States from terrorism.
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I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.
▪ probe [intransitive and transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questions:
The press began probing into the actor’s private life.
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We have been probing the reasons why the government has been so slow to react to the problem of climate change.
▪ delve [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out about:
Over the past year Ms Deen has been delving into the national archives, in order to discover information on the early Muslim settlers.
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I think we need to delve a little deeper.
▪ be under investigation if someone or their activities are under investigation, the police are trying to find out if they have done something illegal:
Several public figures are under investigation for corruption.