Cool MateExamine vs Going to have a look around
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Examine
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Going to have a look around
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Examine
| Examine | Going to have a look around | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə hæv ə lʊk əˈraʊnd//🇺🇸 //ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə hæv ə lʊk əˈraʊnd// |
| Meaning | to look at something carefully to learn more about it | To explore or examine a place |
| Example | The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. | Let's go to the mall and have a look around. |
| 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… | have a look around the area, go for a look around, have a quick look around |
| 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. | Confused with 'having a look at' which is less casual., Using 'go to have a look around' instead of 'going to have a look around'., omitting 'around' makes the phrase sound incomplete. |
| 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 informally to suggest checking something out. Appropriate in casual conversations or when giving directions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Examine vs Going to have a look around
What's the difference between Examine and Going to have a look around?
Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it Going to have a look around: To explore or examine a place
Which is more common: Examine and Going to have a look around?
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. Going to have a look around: Let's go to the mall and have a look around.
Can I use Examine and Going to have a look around interchangeably?
Not always. Examine and Going to have a look around 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.