Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Investigate has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
conduct an inquiry or investigation of
"The district attorney's office investigated reports of possible irregularities"
"inquire into the disappearance of the rich old lady"
To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
"The detective decided to investigate the suspicious noise by checking every room in the house to find out what had caused it."
In plain English: To investigate means to look closely into something to find out what is happening or why it happened.
"The police will investigate the break-in at the bank tomorrow."
Usage: Use "investigate" when you actively examine a situation, crime, or problem to uncover the truth or gather specific facts. Do not use it for general curiosity or casual browsing without a goal of discovery.
Investigate entered English around 1510 as a back-formation from the noun investigation. It comes from the Latin word for "a searching into," which originally meant to look closely at something hidden beneath a surface.