German word

untersuchen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˌʊntɐˈzuːxən/

Meaning

  • verbinvestigate

Example

Die Polizei untersucht den Tatort.

The police are investigating the crime scene.

Illustration for untersuchen (investigate)

More examples

Bevor wir handeln, sollten wir das Problem untersuchen.

Before we act, we should investigate the problem.

Core concept

A gloved examiner checks a patient, object, or scene piece by piece for signs of a condition or cause.

Common phrases

  • ein Problem untersuchen

    investigate a problem

  • die Ursache untersuchen

    investigate the cause

Similar words

prüfen: To check something carefully for correctness or defects.
durchsuchen: To search a box, room, or other place thoroughly for a needed item.
nachsehen: To take a quick look to check a condition or whether something is present.

Definition in German

etwas (Akk.) genau durchsehen oder prüfen, um Fehler, Hinweise oder Ursachen zu finden.

Word origin

Its form descends from Old High German untarsuohhan, built from unter and suchen; the compound developed the sense of thorough searching and checking.

Usage tips

  • Unlike separable unter-verbs such as unterbringen, untersuchen keeps unter- attached in finite clauses: Die Polizei untersucht den Tatort.

Other meanings

  • testverb
  • examineverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word