B2to look at or consider a person or thing carefully and in detail in order to discover something about them: Forensic scientists are examining the wreckage for clues about the cause of the explosion.The council is to examine ways of reducing traffic in the city centre.The research examined the effects of alcohol on long-term memory.[+ question word]We need to examine how an accident like this can be avoided in the future.A psychiatrist was examined (= asked questions)on the mental state of the defendant.Analysing and evaluatingAssessing and estimating value