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
check
- examine
- inspect
- go over something
These 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
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
check
- examine
- inspect
- go over something
These 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.