verb · academic
investigate
UK/ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪt/US/ɪnˈvɛstəˌɡeɪt/in·VEST·i·gate
to examine or study something carefully to discover facts or causes
Examples
“The researchers investigated the link between diet and mental health.”
“The council will investigate complaints about the new policy.”
“We need a formal investigation to find out what went wrong.”
Band 8 sentence
“The study aimed to investigate the long‑term effects of urban development on local biodiversity.”
Collocations
- investigate allegations / complaints
- investigate the cause of
- conduct / launch an investigation
Word family
Common mistakes
investigate about the problem→investigate the problem
do an investigate→conduct an investigation / carry out an investigation
Say it for a higher band
5look into→6examine→7+investigate
Synonyms
examine
probe
Easily confused
examine
“The doctor examined the patient, then the team investigated the possible causes of the symptoms.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sublist 3
Learn it with its set