Basic Details
Word: Interrogate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To question someone closely, often for a long time and in an official way.
Synonyms: question, quiz, cross-examine, grill
Word origin: Comes from Latin interrogare, from inter, between, and rogare, to ask.
How to Spell Interrogate
Syllables: in - ter - ro - gate
Tricky part: There are two r's in the middle: inter ends in r and rogate starts with r. There is only one g.
Watch out for: interogate, interrogete, intarrogate
Memory tip: Inter ends in r and rogate begins with r, so the two meet as rr: inter + rogate.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The police interrogated the suspect for three hours.
Example 2: My little brother interrogates me every time I come home from a trip.
Example 3: In the novel, the detective interrogates every guest at the wedding.
Fun Fact
The question mark has an older name, the interrogation point, and in grammar a question is called an interrogative sentence.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The officer decided to interogate the driver again, because his story about the missing parcel changed every time he told it.
a) interogate
b) driver
c) parcel
d) officer
Show answer
a) interogate. Inter and rogate each bring an r, so the word needs two.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to interrogate as used in the sentence:
The teacher did not interrogate Kabir about the broken window; she simply asked him to help clean up.
a) punish
b) question
c) forgive
d) praise
Show answer
b) question. To interrogate is to question closely, so question is the nearest word.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The reporters waited outside the gate to gonrritaete the minister.
a) interpret
b) interrogate
c) invigorate
d) integrate
Show answer
b) interrogate. There are eleven letters, with two r's and two t's; integrate is too short, interpret has a p and invigorate a v.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A lawyer who interrogates a witness ____.
a) writes the final decision
b) takes the oath for the witness
c) asks the witness searching questions
d) stays silent
Show answer
c) asks the witness searching questions
2. Which noun is formed from interrogate?
a) interrogance
b) interrogation
c) interrogatery
d) interrogment
Show answer
b) interrogation
