to investigate

USAGE SUMMARY

"to investigate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the process of looking into something in order to discover more information. For example, "The police were called to investigate the suspicious activity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Federal investigators continue to investigate the incident.

Los Angeles Times

Detectives continue to investigate.

The New York Times

I'm going to investigate".

The New Yorker

"There's nothing to investigate.

The New York Times - Sports

I decided to investigate.

The New York Times

Activists want to investigate.

The New York Times

I need to investigate.

Independent

I had to investigate.

The New York Times

We'll have to investigate.

The New Yorker

Curiosity impelled him to investigate.

The New York Times

It forces you to investigate".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to investigate", clearly define the subject of investigation to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify what, who, when, where, and why.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions that obscure who is performing the investigation. Instead of "The matter is to be investigated", use "The police will investigate the matter".

Linguistic Context

To investigate primarily functions as an infinitive verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable grammar. It usually introduces the purpose of an action, indicating the intent to inquire, examine, or study something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to investigate" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express the intention or act of inquiring into something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its function is primarily that of an infinitive verb phrase, commonly found in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in News & Media. Remember that, while semantically similar, phrases like "to look into" or "to examine" offer slightly different nuances. Avoid overuse of passive voice to maintain clarity. With its common usage and straightforward meaning, "to investigate" remains a reliable choice for expressing the act of inquiry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to look into

Focuses more on a casual or preliminary examination.

to inquire into

Implies a more formal or official investigation.

to examine

Highlights a detailed and careful inspection.

to probe

Suggests a deeper, more penetrating inquiry.

to scrutinize

Emphasizes a critical and thorough examination.

to research

Involves a systematic and in-depth study.

to explore

Suggests an open-ended investigation with uncertain outcomes.

to analyze

Focuses on breaking down a subject into its constituent parts for examination.

to check out

Indicates a quick and informal assessment.

to get to the bottom of

Highlights the aim of discovering the true cause or reason.

FAQs

What does "to investigate" mean?

The phrase "to investigate" means to inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information about something.

How can I use "to investigate" in a sentence?

You can use "to investigate" in a sentence to describe the act of examining something carefully, such as "The detectives were called "to investigate" the crime scene".

What are some synonyms for "to investigate"?

Some synonyms for "to investigate" include "to look into", "to examine", and "to research", depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "to investigate" and "to examine"?

"To investigate" implies a systematic inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation etc to establish the truth, while "to examine" refers more broadly to inspecting something closely and carefully.