interrogate
C1Formal / Official / Technical
Definition
Meaning
to ask someone questions in a thorough and often forceful or official way to get information
To examine something in detail, such as data, a text, or a system, seeking to uncover meaning or flaws; in computing, to query a database.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a strong connotation of systematic, intensive, and often authoritative questioning. In non-human contexts (e.g., data, text), it implies a rigorous, analytical examination.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slight preference for "question" in less formal British contexts.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of official, police, or military questioning in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in formal/official registers. More common than 'question' in legal, intelligence, and computing contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VN] (transitive)[VN] about N[VN] on N[VN] as to wh-clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Interrogate reality (philosophical/psychological context)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'We need to interrogate these quarterly figures for inconsistencies.'
Academic
Common in humanities/social sciences: 'The author interrogates the underlying assumptions of the theory.'
Everyday
Uncommon. Usually replaced by 'question' or 'ask': 'The police questioned him for hours.'
Technical
Common in computing/IT: 'The application interrogates the database to retrieve the records.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The detectives will interrogate the suspect at the station.
- Scholars often interrogate historical texts for bias.
- The software interrogates the network for active devices.
American English
- The suspect was interrogated for six hours by the FBI.
- The committee plans to interrogate the CEO about the financial discrepancies.
- The tool interrogates the API to pull user data.
adverb
British English
- He looked at her interrogatively.
- The data was examined interrogatively.
American English
- She tilted her head interrogatively.
- We must approach these findings interrogatively.
adjective
British English
- An interrogative tone
- The interrogatory process was lengthy.
American English
- He used an interrogative stare.
- The document was part of an interrogatory filing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police officer asked him many questions.
- The teacher questioned the student about his homework.
- Detectives interrogated the witness for several hours to get a clear account of the event.
- Researchers must interrogate their sources critically to avoid bias.
- The prosecutor meticulously interrogated the defendant, exposing inconsistencies in his testimony.
- Postcolonial theorists interrogate the power dynamics embedded within classic literary texts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TERRITORIAL guard (sounds like 'terro-gate') asking fierce questions at the gate.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUESTIONING IS A FORM OF ATTACK / EXAMINATION IS DISSECTION
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct synonym for "спрашивать" (to ask). Use for intense, official questioning. "Допрашивать" is closer. Beware of using it for simple, everyday questions.
Common Mistakes
- He interrogated me for the time. (Incorrect; too strong). Correct: He asked me for the time.
- I will interrogate about the schedule. (Incorrect valency). Correct: I will interrogate him about the schedule.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'interrogate' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Interrogate' implies a more systematic, forceful, and often official context (e.g., police, military, intense examination). 'Question' is more general and neutral.
Yes, especially in academic and technical contexts. E.g., 'interrogate a dataset,' 'interrogate a philosophical premise.'
It often carries a neutral-to-negative connotation due to its association with coercion and authority. In analytical contexts (e.g., academia), it is neutral.
The primary noun is 'interrogation.' 'Interrogator' is the person who interrogates.
Collections
Part of a collection
Advanced Academic Verbs
C2 · 49 words · Sophisticated verbs for scholarly discourse.
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