english
1
general::
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. • The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behaviour. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
verb
inquire into:
The police investigated the murder.
Simple Definitions
3
general::
verb ADV. carefully, closely | extensively | fully, properly, thoroughly The allegations have not yet been properly investigated. | further | actively VERB + INVESTIGATE ask sb to, be called in to Police have been called in to investigate the complaints. | agree to, pledge to, promise to The company has pledged to investigate claims that its products are unsafe. | aim to, be designed to, seek to
Oxford Collocations Dictionary