investigate
To inquire into or study systematically in order to discover facts or information.
writing-task-2readingspeakingScience and researchGovernment and society
IELTS use
Talk about research, causes of problems, or examining an issue in depth.
Examples
- The government should investigate the causes of air pollution.
- Researchers are investigating the link between diet and mental health.
Collocations
- investigate the causes
- Scientists investigated the causes of the disease.
- investigate a problem
- A committee was formed to investigate the problem.
Word family
- Noun
- investigation
- Verb
- investigate
- Adjective
- investigative
- Adverb
- investigatively
Paraphrases
- look into: Less formal, common in speaking.
- probe: More formal, suggests thorough examination.
Common mistakes
- We need to investigate about the issue. to We need to investigate the issue.. 'Investigate' takes a direct object; no preposition needed.
- The police is investigating. to The police are investigating.. Use plural verb with 'police' in standard English.