examine

Universal Words verb 1 to consider or study an idea, a subject, etc. very carefully: [VN] These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10. * [Vwh-] It is necessary to examine how the proposals can be carried out. 2 [VN] sth/sb (for sth) to look at sth/sb closely, to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem: The goods were examined for damage on arrival. * The doctor examined her but could find nothing wrong. 3 [VN] sb (in / on sth) (formal) to give sb a test to see how much they know about a subject or what they can do: The students will be examined in all subjects at the end of term. * You are only being examined on this semester's work. 4 [VN] (law) to ask sb questions formally, especially in a court of law seealsoCROSS-EXAMINE IDIOMS see NEEDv.