probe
To explore or examine something carefully to find out more.
probe in a sentence
- The dentist used a tiny mirror to probe around the tooth, checking every corner for holes.
- The rover will probe the surface of Mars, digging and testing the red soil for clues.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to probe?
- Aignore
- Bneglect
- Cskip
- Dexplore
Show the answer
D: explore. The other three mean the opposite of probe.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to probe?
- Aexplore
- Bignore
- Cexamine
- Dsearch
Show the answer
B: ignore. The other three mean nearly the same as probe.
Words that mean something similar
explore, examine, search
Words that mean the opposite
ignore, skip, neglect
More words about thinking & learning
- prodigy: A young person who is amazingly talented at something.
- profound: Very deep and full of meaning.
- relevant: Closely connected to what is being talked about.
- resolve: To decide firmly to do something, or to find an answer to a problem.
- retain: To keep or hold on to something.
- sceptical: Not sure something is true and needing proof before you believe it.
- scrutinise: To look at something very closely and carefully to check every detail.
- shrewd: Clever at judging people and situations, especially to get what you want.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test