re-examine
C1Formal, Academic, Legal
Definition
Meaning
To examine something again, especially to consider new evidence or with a fresh perspective.
To review or reconsider a situation, decision, evidence, or belief carefully.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a more thorough, critical, or objective second look, often prompted by doubt or new information. Often used in institutional contexts (law, science, policy).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Hyphenation more common and stable in British English ('re-examine'). American English may use 'reexamine' as a closed form, but both forms are found.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British legal and parliamentary contexts. In American English, often associated with scientific review or policy reassessment.
Frequency
Medium-low frequency in both varieties, but slightly higher in British English due to parliamentary and judicial usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
re-examine [NP]re-examine [NP] in light of [NP]re-examine [NP] for [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly associated]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when reviewing a strategy or financial model: 'We must re-examine our quarterly projections.'
Academic
Used in research to indicate critical review of a theory or data set: 'The study forces us to re-examine long-held assumptions.'
Everyday
Used for personal decisions or beliefs: 'After the trip, I re-examined my career goals.'
Technical
Common in legal contexts (appeals), scientific method (peer review), and software development (code review).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee voted to re-examine the proposed legislation.
- We need to re-examine the original witness statements.
American English
- The court agreed to reexamine the case based on new DNA evidence.
- The findings compelled us to reexamine our entire hypothesis.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- The re-examine report was tabled for discussion. (less common)
American English
- A reexamine clause was included in the contract. (rare)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too advanced for A2]
- The teacher said we can re-examine our test scores tomorrow.
- I will re-examine my travel plans.
- After the scandal, the company promised to re-examine its ethical guidelines.
- The historian urged us to re-examine the events leading to the war.
- The appellate court has the power to re-examine both the facts and the law of the case.
- Recent discoveries in physics force us to fundamentally re-examine our model of the universe.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-EXAMINE = RE (again) + EXAMINE (look closely). Think of a student asking to 're-examine' a marked test paper.
Conceptual Metaphor
INVESTIGATION IS VISION / LOOKING ('look at again'), THINKING IS SEEING ('see in a new light').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'пере-экзаменовать' (which implies retaking a test). Use 'пересмотреть' (pere-smotret'), 'заново рассмотреть' (zanovo rassmotret'), 'проанализировать заново' (proanalizirovat' zanovo).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 're-exam' (a retaken examination). Incorrect hyphenation: 'reexamine' vs 're-examine' (both acceptable, but style guides differ). Using it for trivial repetition ('I re-examined the shopping list').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 're-examine' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Re-examine' implies a more critical, thorough, and often formal second analysis, usually prompted by doubt or new information. 'Review' can be more general, routine, or less intensive.
In British English, it is typically hyphenated (re-examine). In American English, both 'reexamine' (closed) and 're-examine' (hyphenated) are used, with the former becoming more common. Always check a specific style guide.
Yes, but it carries a formal tone. In personal contexts, it suggests a serious, deliberate reconsideration of beliefs, relationships, or life choices, not just a casual second thought.
The most common noun is 're-examination' (hyphenated in BrE, often 'reexamination' in AmE). Example: 'The case was sent back for a re-examination of the evidence.'