Cool MateExamine vs Take a look at this knife
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Examine
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Take a look at this knife
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Examine
| Examine | Take a look at this knife | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //teɪk ə lʊk æt ðɪs naɪf//🇺🇸 //teɪk ə lʊk æt ðɪs naɪf// |
| Meaning | to look at something carefully to learn more about it | Look at this knife. |
| Example | The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. | Could you please **take a look at this knife**? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | carefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine…, carefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine… | take a look at something, take a closer look, take a quick look |
| Antonyms | ignore, overlook, neglect | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'inspect' — 'examine' is broader than just checking for flaws., Misusing the tense — should use 'examined' for past actions, not 'examine'., Incorrect prepositions — do not say 'examine to' but 'examine for' in some contexts. | Using 'take a look to this knife' instead of 'at'., Saying 'look a knife' instead of 'take a look at this knife'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'examine' in formal contexts like academic writing or professional discussions. It may sound out of place in casual conversations, where 'look at' might be preferred. | Used to direct someone's attention to something specific. Best in casual contexts; avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Examine vs Take a look at this knife
What's the difference between Examine and Take a look at this knife?
Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it Take a look at this knife: Look at this knife.
Which is more common: Examine and Take a look at this knife?
Examine is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Examine: The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. Take a look at this knife: Could you please **take a look at this knife**?
Can I use Examine and Take a look at this knife interchangeably?
Not always. Examine and Take a look at this knife are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.