Cool MateExamine vs Looked into
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Examine
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Looked into
Top 2,000 (common)
| Examine | Looked into | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //lʊkt ˈɪntuː//🇺🇸 //lʊkt ˈɪntu// |
| Meaning | to look at something carefully to learn more about it | To investigate or check something. |
| Example | The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. | The manager looked into the employee's complaint. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (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… | look into a problem, look into options, look into issues, look into solutions, look into complaints |
| 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 'look into' with 'look at', 'Look into' is sometimes incorrectly used with non-count nouns, Mixing up the tenses, e.g., saying 'look into' instead of 'looked into' for past actions |
| 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. | Use 'looked into' when referring to checking details or investigating something. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Examine vs Looked into
What's the difference between Examine and Looked into?
Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it Looked into: To investigate or check something.
Can you show an example of each?
Examine: The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. Looked into: The manager looked into the employee's complaint.
Can I use Examine and Looked into interchangeably?
Not always. Examine and Looked into 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.