# examining

/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /ɛɡzˈæmɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/examining
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. inspecting closely

verb · CEFR B1

looking at something or someone very carefully to find out more or to check for a problem.

For teachers: the present participle of 'examine', denoting the act of inspecting or scrutinising something in detail to determine its nature or condition.

- The doctor is examining the patient's throat to see why it is sore.
- The forensic team spent hours examining the digital evidence, looking for any trace of the unauthorised access that occurred during the night.

### 2. observant

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes someone who is looking at things very carefully and thoughtfully.

For teachers: tending to examine or engaged in close observation; characterised by a studiously observant or inquisitive manner.

- She gave the old painting an examining look, trying to spot the artist's signature.
- He turned an examining eye toward the contract, his years of legal experience allowing him to detect the subtle inconsistencies in the fine print.

### 3. the process of inspection

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the act of checking or testing something.

For teachers: the gerund form used as a noun to describe the process of investigation or inspection.

- The examining of the evidence took much longer than the police expected.
- The careful examining of historical records revealed that the local legends were based on actual events from the seventeenth century.

## Examples

- The doctor is examining the patient's throat.
- The committee is currently examining the new evidence to see if the policy needs to change.
- By examining the historical data alongside current market trends, the analysts identified a recurring pattern that others had overlooked during the initial review.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.