From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishinvestigatein‧ves‧ti‧gate /ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/ ●●● W2 AWL verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]INVESTIGATE 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.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say look into something rather than investigate something:I’ll ask my colleague to look into it.2 [transitive]SCCINVESTIGATE 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.THESAURUSinvestigate to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problemPolice 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 thisThe 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 doMilitary 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 [intransitive, transitive] to try to find secret or hidden information, especially by asking questionsThe 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 [intransitive] to look somewhere in order to try to find more information about something, especially something that is difficult to find out aboutOver 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 illegalSeveral public figures are under investigation for corruption. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
investigate• We sent our reporter, Michael Gore, to investigate.• Police are investigating an explosion at the city store.• Hunt was investigated for more than a year before he was arrested.• The commission will investigate the cause of the accident, focusing especially on safety issues.• The FBI has been called in to investigate the murder.From Longman Business Dictionaryinvestigatein‧ves‧ti‧gate /ɪnˈvestɪgeɪt/ verb [intransitive, transitive] to try to discover the truth about a crime, accident etcThe fraud office isinvestigating allegations of insider trading by a former employee of the firm. —investigation noun [countable, uncountable]a bankerunder criminal investigationa federal investigation into junk bond trading —investigator noun [countable]a government investigator→ See Verb tableOrigin investigate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of investigare “to follow the track of”, from vestigium “track” 