probe

probe — verb

1. to ask someone questions in a careful, indirect way in order to find out informa

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to ask someone questions in a careful, indirect way in order to find out information they do not want to share

Example

The reporter probed the politician about the missing funds, but he changed the subject.

transitive: probe + person + about + topic

Sora's friends kept probing into her private life until she asked them to stop.

intransitive: probe + into + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • probe deeply
  • probe gently
  • probe about
  • probe into
Synonyms
  • inquire

    more neutral and polite; does not imply the person is hiding something

  • investigate

    more formal and systematic; often used by authorities

  • pry

    more negative; suggests annoying, unwanted curiosity

  • delve

    used with 'into'; suggests deep exploration of a topic rather than questioning a person

Grammar Patterns

probe + object (about/for something)

probe + into + noun

Usage Note

Often used with 'into' when the focus is the topic under investigation, or with a direct object naming the person being questioned. The tone suggests the asker is being persistent and the other person is reluctant.

Common Mistakes

The police probed the crime scene for fingerprints.
The police examined the crime scene for fingerprints.
For physical examination of objects or places, use verb sense 2 ('probe something with a tool').
She probed the documents thoroughly.
She examined the documents thoroughly.
'Probe' usually involves questioning people, not checking papers. Use 'examine' or 'study' for documents.

2. to use a thin tool to search the inside of something, usually to find an object

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to use a thin tool to search the inside of something, usually to find an object or problem that is not easy to see

Example

The dentist probed Camille's gum carefully with a small metal tool.

probe + object + with + tool (instrumental)

Using a thin wire, the mechanic probed the engine pipe for a blockage.

probe + object + for + target

Common collocations
  • probe gently
  • probe carefully
  • probe for
  • probe with
Synonyms
  • examine

    more general; does not suggest a tool is being used

  • explore

    suggests searching an unknown area; broader in meaning

  • poke

    less careful and more casual than 'probe'

Grammar Patterns

probe + object + with + tool

probe + object + for + hidden thing

Usage Note

Commonly followed by 'with' naming the tool used. The direct object is the thing being examined — a body part, piece of equipment, or material.

Common Mistakes

She probed him about his weekend plans.
She asked him about his weekend plans.
For questioning a person about information, use verb sense 1. This sense describes physical examination with a tool.

probe — noun

Word family

  • probing
    adjectiveC1
  • probingly
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve trying to find information, but they differ in tone and method. 'Inquire' is the most neutral and polite — you can inquire about train times or a colleague's health. 'Investigate' is more formal and systematic, often used by authorities examining a crime or problem. 'Pry' has a strongly negative feel — it means asking about things that are not your business, like a nosy neighbour prying into your relationships. 'Delve' (usually with 'into') means exploring a topic in depth, like delving into old records or a historical question. 'Probe' sits between 'investigate' and 'pry': it suggests careful, sometimes persistent questioning of someone who would rather stay quiet. A journalist probes a witness; a friend probes your reasons for quitting. Use 'inquire' for polite requests, 'investigate' for formal searches, 'pry' for intrusions, 'delve' for research, and 'probe' for determined, often indirect questioning.

inquire ↗investigate ↗pry ↗delve

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • under probe
  • subject to a probe

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'probe' comes from the Latin noun 'proba', meaning a test or proof. This came from the verb 'probare', meaning to test or approve. In the 1500s, English borrowed 'probe' as a medical term for a tool used to examine wounds. By the 1600s, it was also used as a verb meaning to explore or question. The idea of a 'space probe' — an unmanned spacecraft that gathers data — appeared in the mid-1900s during the early Space Age.