Cool MateExplore vs Investigate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Explore
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Investigate
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Most common: Explore
| Explore | Investigate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈsplɔː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈsplɔːr// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪts/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪd/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪts/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪd/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To travel around a place to learn about it. | To look into something closely to find out more information. |
| Example | We decided to explore the ancient ruins during our vacation. | The police will investigate the crime scene for new evidence. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | explore options, explore ideas, explore a topic | carefully, closely, in detail, ask somebody to, be called in to, decide to, for, carefully, closely, in detail, ask somebody to, be called in to, decide to, for |
| Antonyms | ignore, neglect, overlook | ignore, overlook, disregard |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'explain' which means to make something clear., Using it without an object, e.g., 'explore' should be followed by a place or subject. | Confusing with 'invest' which relates to money or resources., Using as an intransitive verb; it requires an object (e.g., 'investigate the issue')., Mixing up with synonyms like 'examine' without understanding the context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'explore' when discussing travel, research, or discovery. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. | Commonly used in formal contexts, especially in journalism, research, or law enforcement. It may not be seen as appropriate in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Explore vs Investigate
What's the difference between Explore and Investigate?
Explore: To travel around a place to learn about it. Investigate: To look into something closely to find out more information.
Which is more common: Explore and Investigate?
Explore is the most common in everyday English.
Are Explore and Investigate the same CEFR level?
Explore: B1, Investigate: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Explore and Investigate interchangeably?
Not always. Explore and Investigate 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.