in‧ves‧ti‧gate W2 AC / ɪnvestəɡeɪt, ɪnvestɪɡeɪt / 动词

1 [不及物和及物动词] 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.

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In everyday English, people often say look into something rather than investigate something:

I’ll ask my colleague to look into it.

2 [及物动词] 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.

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. | 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 [不及物和及物动词] 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 [不及物动词] 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.