scrutinise
gb/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz/ us/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz/
C1
English
megvizsgál, ellenőriz, szemügyre vesz
VERB
C1
FORMAL
1
megvizsgál
B2
Usage pattern:
scrutinise [something] (for [something])
The committee scrutinised the report for errors before publishing it.
A bizottság a közzététel előtt alaposan megvizsgálta a jelentést, hogy talál-e benne hibákat.
Journalists are scrutinising the minister’s statements for inconsistencies.
Az újságírók alaposan vizsgálják a miniszter kijelentéseit, hogy találjanak bennük ellentmondásokat.
We need to scrutinise the data carefully before drawing conclusions.
Learner examples
The teacher scrutinised my essay for mistakes.
A tanár alaposan átnézte a fogalmazásomat, hogy talál-e benne hibákat.
Please scrutinise the plan before you agree.
Kérlek, alaposan nézd át a tervet, mielőtt beleegyezel.
Common mistake:
Often misspelled; US spelling is scrutinize. It usually takes a direct object (scrutinise something).
Meaning
examine very carefully and critically
Collocations
scrutinise closely
|scrutinise carefully
|scrutinise the details
|scrutinise the evidence
|scrutinise the data
|scrutinise a report
|scrutinise a proposal
|scrutinise a claim
|scrutinise the results
|scrutinise every aspect
Synonyms
examine (More general; less strongly suggests critical checking.)
|
inspect (Often used for checking condition or quality, sometimes physically.)
|
review (Often used for considering information or work, sometimes less intense.)
|
analyse (Emphasises breaking something down to understand it.)
|
vet (Emphasises checking suitability or reliability (often people or plans).)
Antonyms
overlook (To miss or fail to notice something that should be checked.)
|
skim (To read or look quickly without close attention.)
|
glance at (To look briefly, not in detail.)
Themes
thinking
|communication
|education
|media
Definition
To look at something very carefully to understand it or find mistakes.
To examine something closely and carefully, especially in order to find problems, understand it fully, or make a judgement about it.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
ellenőriz
B1
Usage pattern:
scrutinise [documents/accounts/applications] (to [do something])
The regulator will scrutinise the company’s accounts for signs of fraud.
A felügyeleti szerv alaposan ellenőrizni fogja a vállalat könyvelését, hogy vannak-e csalásra utaló jelek.
All visa applications are scrutinised before a decision is made.
Minden vízumkérelmet alaposan ellenőriznek, mielőtt döntés születik.
The board scrutinised the contract terms before signing.
Learner examples
The bank scrutinised my loan application.
A bank alaposan ellenőrizte a hitelkérelmemet.
Officials scrutinised the company’s spending.
A tisztviselők alaposan ellenőrizték a vállalat kiadásait.
Common mistake:
In this meaning it often relates to formal processes (audits, approvals), not casual checking.
Meaning
officially check for correctness
Collocations
scrutinise accounts
|scrutinise spending
|scrutinise a budget
|scrutinise an application
|scrutinise the paperwork
|scrutinise financial statements
|scrutinise compliance
|scrutinise procedures
|scrutinise expenses
|scrutinise contracts
Synonyms
audit (More specific; a formal examination, especially of accounts.)
|
check (More general and less formal.)
|
verify (Focuses on confirming truth or accuracy.)
|
examine (More general; may not imply an official process.)
|
review (Often part of a process, but can be less strict than scrutinise.)
Antonyms
approve (To accept without necessarily examining closely.)
|
rubber-stamp (To approve automatically with little or no checking.)
Themes
business
|government
|law
|finance
Definition
To check official papers or money records very carefully.
To examine documents, accounts, applications, or procedures carefully as part of an official check for correctness, legality, or compliance.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
scrutinise [someone/something]
She scrutinised his face, trying to remember where she’d seen him before.
Szemügyre vette a férfi arcát, és megpróbálta felidézni, hol látta már korábban.
He scrutinised the bottle label to check the ingredients.
Szemügyre vette az üveg címkéjét, hogy ellenőrizze az összetevőket.
The guard scrutinised my ID before letting me in.
Learner examples
I scrutinised the photo for clues.
Szemügyre vettem a fényképet nyomok után kutatva.
She scrutinised the map.
Szemügyre vette a térképet.
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, people often use look closely at or stare at instead of scrutinise.
Meaning
look closely at someone/something
Collocations
scrutinise someone’s face
|scrutinise the label
|scrutinise the photo
|scrutinise the screen
|scrutinise the handwriting
|scrutinise the map
|scrutinise the signature
|scrutinise the ingredients
|scrutinise the small print
|scrutinise the image
Synonyms
study (Can suggest careful looking, but not always critical.)
|
peer at (Suggests difficulty seeing; often involves effort.)
|
inspect (Suggests looking closely to check condition or details.)
|
stare at (Focuses on prolonged looking; may sound rude or intense.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not look at or pay attention to.)
|
glance at (To look briefly without examining details.)
Themes
daily_life
|perception
|people
Definition
To look very closely at someone or something.
To look at someone or something very closely, often for a short time, to see details or to try to recognise or assess it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
scrutinise
IPA
GB/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz/
US/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
scru - tin - ise (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (scru)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: scrutinise
- 3rd Person Singular: scrutinises
- Present Participle: scrutinising
- Past: scrutinised
Expressions
scrutinise closely
1/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz klˈoʊsli/
fixed phrase
formal
examine with great care
To check something very carefully.
Examples
- We scrutinised the figures closely before presenting them to investors.
- Her work is scrutinised closely by editors.
- The terms of the deal were scrutinised closely by lawyers.
Learner examples
- Please scrutinise the document closely.
- They scrutinised the plan closely.
scrutinise in detail
1/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz ˈɪn dˈiteɪl/
fixed phrase
formal
examine thoroughly and carefully
To look at every part carefully.
Examples
- The inspector will scrutinise the safety report in detail.
- We scrutinised the results in detail to understand what went wrong.
- The judge scrutinised the evidence in detail before reaching a decision.
Learner examples
- I scrutinised the report in detail.
- They scrutinised the data in detail.
scrutinise line by line
1/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz lˈaɪn bˈaɪ lˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
check each part carefully
To read very carefully, one line at a time.
Examples
- They scrutinised the contract line by line before signing.
- The editor scrutinised the manuscript line by line.
- Investigators scrutinised his statement line by line for contradictions.
Learner examples
- We scrutinised the contract line by line.
- She scrutinised the letter line by line.
scrutinise under a microscope
1/skɹˈutɪnˌaɪz ˈʌndɚ ə mˈaɪkɹoʊskˌoʊp/
idiom
formal
examine extremely closely
To check something extremely carefully.
Examples
- Every expense was scrutinised under a microscope during the audit.
- The candidate’s past was scrutinised under a microscope by the press.
- After the recall, the company’s safety procedures were scrutinised under a microscope.
Learner examples
- His work was scrutinised under a microscope.
- The budget was scrutinised under a microscope.