inspect

IPA/ɪnˈspekt/
KK[ˌɪnspˈɛkt]IPA/ɪnˈspekt/

inspect — verb

  • inspectpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • inspectshe / she / it
  • inspectedpast simple
  • inspecting-ing form

1. to study something or someone very closely by looking at every part, in order to

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to study something or someone very closely by looking at every part, in order to find facts about its quality, condition, or correctness.

Example

Reema inspected every seam of the dress before deciding to buy it.

inspect + noun phrase: examining every part of an object

The mechanic inspected the engine carefully but found nothing wrong with it.

inspect + adverb (carefully) for emphasis

Common collocations
  • inspect carefully
  • inspect thoroughly
  • inspect visually
  • inspect the site
  • inspect the goods
  • inspect the vehicle
Synonyms
  • examine

    broader — can include testing or probing, not just visual checking

  • scrutinize

    more intense — means looking extremely closely, often at details

  • survey

    more general — looking over a whole area or collection, not necessarily close up

Antonyms
  • overlook

    to fail to notice something when inspecting

  • ignore

    to deliberately pay no attention to something

Grammar Patterns

inspect + noun phrase (object)

Usage Note

The object is usually a concrete thing (document, object, person) whose condition or quality you want to assess. For abstract objects (proposal, situation), prefer 'examine' or 'review'.

Common Mistakes

The doctor inspected the patient's heart.
The doctor examined the patient's heart.
'inspect' usually refers to looking at the outside or surface of something; doctors use 'examine' for medical checks.

2. to go to a workplace, school, factory, or other establishment as an official vis

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to go to a workplace, school, factory, or other establishment as an official visitor, checking whether rules, safety measures, and legal requirements are being followed.

Example

Health officials inspect every restaurant in the city at least once a year.

inspect + place: institutional authority

A team from the education ministry inspected the school and praised its teaching standards.

Common collocations
  • inspect a factory
  • inspect a school
  • inspect premises
  • inspect facilities
  • inspect working conditions
  • inspect for compliance
Synonyms
  • audit

    specifically financial or procedural records, not physical premises

  • review

    less formal — can be done by anyone, not necessarily an authority figure

Grammar Patterns

inspect + place / group (object)

Usage Note

Subject is typically an official body, government agency, or authorized inspector. Frequently found in passive constructions when the focus is on the place being checked rather than who does the checking.

Common Mistakes

The teacher inspected my homework.
The teacher checked my homework.
teachers check or mark homework; 'inspect' implies formal authority investigating rule compliance, not everyday correction.

3. to have a building, bridge, or similar structure examined by a qualified profess

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to have a building, bridge, or similar structure examined by a qualified professional who looks for hidden faults, damage, or safety problems in its physical construction.

Example

Before buying the house, Nkechi hired a surveyor to inspect the roof and the foundations.

inspect + building part (roof, foundations) for hidden faults

The apartment block was inspected for structural damage after the earthquake.

passive: be inspected for [defect]

Common collocations
  • inspect a building
  • inspect a property
  • inspect the roof
  • inspect the foundations
  • inspect for damage
  • inspect for defects
  • have the house inspected
Synonyms
  • survey

    the standard term in British English for professional building inspections

  • assess

    broader — can include evaluating value, not just physical condition

Grammar Patterns

inspect + building / structure (object)

be inspected for [defect]

Usage Note

Nearly always passive ('the building was inspected') or describes a hired specialist ('someone inspected the property'). The inspection is done by a trained professional (surveyor, engineer, building inspector) rather than a government authority.

Common Mistakes

I inspected my kitchen pipes myself.
A plumber inspected the kitchen pipes.
the word implies professional expertise; for casual personal checking, use 'check' or 'look at.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Inspect' and 'examine' are the closest pair — both mean looking at something closely. However, 'inspect' carries a stronger sense of checking condition or quality against a standard (a mechanic inspects a car for faults), while 'examine' includes testing, probing, or exploring (a doctor examines a patient). 'Scrutinize' is more intense and detail-focused: you scrutinize a contract's fine print, but you do not 'scrutinize' a whole room. 'Survey' means looking over a broad area or collection rather than one item closely — a surveyor surveys a plot of land, but does not 'inspect' every blade of grass. For everyday checking of work or progress, use 'review' (a manager reviews a report).

examine ↗scrutinize ↗survey ↗inspect ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • carry out an inspection
  • pass inspection
  • fail inspection
  • undergo inspection

Prepositions

  • for (e.g. inspect for damage)
  • by (e.g. inspected by an expert)

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'inspectus', meaning 'to look into', from 'in-' (into) + 'specere' (to look). The word entered English around the 1600s, first used in a general sense of 'looking at closely'. The official and building-specific senses developed later as societies created formal systems for checking quality and safety.