MEANING
1. To investigate something by careful questioning, testing, or exploration.
2. An instrument or craft used to examine, measure, or explore something.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- probe an assumption
- probe for weaknesses
On the page
The interview probed the assumptions behind the decision.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- probe
- Past tense
- probed
- Past participle
- probed
- Present participle
- probing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- probe
- Present continuous
- am/is/are probing
- Present perfect
- have/has probed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been probing
- Past
- probed
- Past continuous
- was/were probing
- Past perfect
- had probed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been probing
- Future
- will probe
- Future continuous
- will be probing
- Future perfect
- will have probed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been probing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: analysis / argumentation / evidence. Forms: probe; probes; probed; probed; probing. Noun singular probe; plural probes. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: probes.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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