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probe

noun · verb

Simple meaning

To explore, investigate, question, test.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

prohb
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈpɹoʊb

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. An inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities

    “There was a congressional probe into the scandal.”

  2. An investigation conducted using a flexible surgical instrument to explore an injury or a body cavity

  3. figuratively

    Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information.

  4. figuratively

    An investigation or inquiry.

  5. An act of probing; a prod, a poke.

  6. go

    A move with multiple possible answers, seeking to make the opponent choose and commit to a strategy.

verb

  1. ambitransitive

    To explore, investigate, question, test, or prove.

  2. transitive

    To insert a probe into.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
Varies by meaning

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: (ambitransitive) To explore, investigate, question, test, or prove.

Used this way, probe is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
No strong connotation
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use probe

  • “There was a congressional probe into the scandal.”noun

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

space probeelectron probedna probeprobe tipprobe beamscanning probetemperature probelabeled probe

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Word family

Words built from the same root.

  • probationnounDerived noun

    A trial period during which your character and abilities are tested to see whether you are suitable for work or for membership.

  • probableadjectiveDerived adjective

    Likely but not certain to be or become true or real.

  • probablyadverbDerived adverb

    With considerable certainty.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • space probenounCompound term

    A rocket-propelled guided missile that can escape the earth's atmosphere.

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.