Examine vs The police look at the treasurer
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Examine
The police look at the treasurer
| Examine | The police look at the treasurer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə pəˈliːs lʊk æt ðə ˈtrɛʒə//🇺🇸 //ðə pəˈlis lʊk æt ðə ˈtrɛʒər// |
| Meaning | to look at something carefully to learn more about it | The police examine or focus on the person in charge of money. |
| Example | The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. | The police look at the treasurer's financial records for any discrepancies. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly 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… | look at evidence, look at results, look at options |
| 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. | Confusing with 'look for' which means to search., Using 'look' without 'at' for this meaning., Misplacing the object, saying 'the treasurer looks at the police'. |
| 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 in everyday conversation. Not typically used in formal writing. It implies attention or scrutiny. |
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Frequently asked questions: Examine vs The police look at the treasurer
What's the difference between Examine and The police look at the treasurer?
Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it The police look at the treasurer: The police examine or focus on the person in charge of money.
Which is more common: Examine and The police look at the treasurer?
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. The police look at the treasurer: The police look at the treasurer's financial records for any discrepancies.
Can I use Examine and The police look at the treasurer interchangeably?
Not always. Examine and The police look at the treasurer 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.