delve

IPA/delv/
KK[dˈɛlv]IPA/delv/

delve — verb

  • delvepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • delveshe / she / it
  • delvedpast simple
  • delving-ing form

1. to study or investigate a subject thoroughly, searching for facts or knowledge t

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to study or investigate a subject thoroughly, searching for facts or knowledge that are not widely known or easily found

例句

Chiara delved into the company records to understand why it had failed.

The young journalist delved deeply into the politician's early career.

delve deeply into + subject (adverb intensifier)

同義詞
  • investigate

    more systematic and often official; police investigate, but researchers delve

  • explore

    suggests a wider, more open-ended inquiry without a specific target

  • probe

    implies a pointed and sometimes intrusive examination, sharper than delve

  • research

    more methodical and academic; research is what scholars do, delve is what curious individuals do

反義詞
  • overlook

    to fail to notice or examine something that would reward attention

  • ignore

    to deliberately avoid looking into something

文法句型

delve into [topic/subject]

delve deeply into [subject]

用法筆記

Common in formal and academic writing; less frequent in casual conversation. The pattern 'delve into + topic' is standard, and 'deeply' is a common adverb collocation.

常見錯誤

❌We delved the mystery of the missing painting.
✅We delved into the mystery of the missing painting.
💡'delve' is intransitive and must be followed by 'into' before the object of investigation.

2. to push your hand deep into something or dig below its surface while searching f

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to push your hand deep into something or dig below its surface while searching for a hidden object

例句

Chidi delved into his backpack, searching for his missing wallet.

delve into + container (backpack, bag, drawer)

The children delved in the sandbox, looking for the shells they had buried.

同義詞
  • rummage

    implies a hurried or messy search, especially inside a container

  • burrow

    suggests pushing through or under something, like an animal digging a tunnel

  • dig

    more general; can be literal (dig in soil) or figurative, while delve is rarer and more literary

反義詞
  • skim

    to move over a surface without going deep, opposite of delving beneath

文法句型

delve into [container/surface]

delve beneath [surface/noun phrase]

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'into' when searching inside a container or enclosed space, and with 'beneath' or 'under' for surface-level digging through a pile or layer.

常見錯誤

❌She delved the bag for her phone.
✅She delved into the bag for her phone.
💡'delve' is intransitive and always needs a preposition such as 'into' before the thing being searched.