Definition of inspect verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

inspect

verb

/ɪnˈspekt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they inspect	/ɪnˈspekt/ /ɪnˈspekt/
he / she / it inspects	/ɪnˈspekts/ /ɪnˈspekts/
past simple inspected	/ɪnˈspektɪd/ /ɪnˈspektɪd/
past participle inspected	/ɪnˈspektɪd/ /ɪnˈspektɪd/
-ing form inspecting	/ɪnˈspektɪŋ/ /ɪnˈspektɪŋ/

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to look closely at something/somebody, especially to check that everything is as it should be synonym examine
- inspect something/somebody The teacher walked around inspecting their work.
- Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them.
- inspect something/somebody for something The plants are regularly inspected for disease.
Synonyms check
checkexamine ▪ inspect ▪ go over somethingThese words all mean to look closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, or acceptable.
check to look at something closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, safe or acceptable:
Check your work before handing it in.
examine to look at somebody/something closely to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem:
The goods were examined for damage on arrival.
inspect to look at somebody/something closely to make sure that everything is acceptable; to officially visit a school, factory, etc. in order to check that rules are being obeyed and that standards are acceptable:
Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them.
The Tourist Board inspects all recommended hotels at least once a year.
check, examine or inspect?All these words can be used when you are looking for possible problems, but of these three words only check is used for mistakes: Examine/Inspect your work before handing it in. Only examine is used when looking for the cause of a problem: The doctor checked/inspected her but could find nothing wrong. Examine is used more often about a professional person: The surveyor examined the walls for signs of damp. Inspect is used more often about an official: Public health officials were called in to inspect the restaurant.
go over something to check something carefully for mistakes, damage or anything dangerous:
Go over your work for spelling mistakes before you hand it in.
Patterns
- to check/examine/inspect/go over (something) for something
- to check/examine/inspect/go over something to see if/whether…
- to check/examine/inspect/go over something carefully/thoroughly
Extra Examples
- He inspected the water tank carefully for cracks.
- The first step is to visually inspect the ground, looking for rocks and lumps.
Topics Crime and punishmentc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- carefully
- closely
- thoroughly
- …
verb + inspect
- allow somebody to
- be entitled to
preposition
- for
See full entry
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inspect something to officially visit a school, factory, etc. in order to check that rules are being obeyed and that standards are acceptable
- Public health officials were called in to inspect the premises.
- The Tourist Board inspects all recommended hotels at least once a year.
Synonyms check
checkexamine ▪ inspect ▪ go over somethingThese words all mean to look closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, or acceptable.
check to look at something closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, safe or acceptable:
Check your work before handing it in.
examine to look at somebody/something closely to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem:
The goods were examined for damage on arrival.
inspect to look at somebody/something closely to make sure that everything is acceptable; to officially visit a school, factory, etc. in order to check that rules are being obeyed and that standards are acceptable:
Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them.
The Tourist Board inspects all recommended hotels at least once a year.
check, examine or inspect?All these words can be used when you are looking for possible problems, but of these three words only check is used for mistakes: Examine/Inspect your work before handing it in. Only examine is used when looking for the cause of a problem: The doctor checked/inspected her but could find nothing wrong. Examine is used more often about a professional person: The surveyor examined the walls for signs of damp. Inspect is used more often about an official: Public health officials were called in to inspect the restaurant.
go over something to check something carefully for mistakes, damage or anything dangerous:
Go over your work for spelling mistakes before you hand it in.
Patterns
- to check/examine/inspect/go over (something) for something
- to check/examine/inspect/go over something to see if/whether…
- to check/examine/inspect/go over something carefully/thoroughly
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- carefully
- closely
- thoroughly
- …
verb + inspect
- allow somebody to
- be entitled to
preposition
- for
See full entry

Word Originearly 17th cent. (earlier (late Middle English) as inspection): from Latin inspect- ‘looked into, examined’, from the verb inspicere (from in- ‘in’ + specere ‘look at’), or from its frequentative, inspectare.

See inspect in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee inspect in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: inspect

Nearby words

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adjective

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