To investigate means to carefully examine something to discover the truth or find out what really happened. When a detective investigates a crime, she searches for clues, interviews witnesses, and pieces together evidence until the mystery makes sense. When a scientist investigates why plants grow better in certain soils, he runs experiments, measures results, and tests different possibilities.

Investigation requires patience and attention to detail. Real investigating means asking questions, gathering information from multiple sources, and thinking critically about what you find. A journalist might investigate a story by checking facts and talking to people involved. A doctor investigates symptoms to diagnose an illness.

You investigate when you're genuinely curious and want real answers. When your teacher asks you to investigate how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, she wants you to dig deeper than the first website you find. Good investigation takes time, requires honesty about what the evidence shows, and can lead to surprising discoveries you never expected.