exploratory surgery
noun
: surgery done to find and identify a problem
He underwent exploratory surgery.
Examples of exploratory surgery in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Doctors then proceeded with exploratory surgery.
—
Hanna Park, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
After three rounds of antibiotics, McEneaney decided to do exploratory surgery and ended up spotting a piece of hair out of the corner of his eye.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 22 May 2025
The next step was going to be exploratory surgery in his lower left leg that could have required months of rehabilitation.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024
Her husband underwent exploratory surgery and then was to be transferred to the York Street campus.
—Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2024
Clinical investigations could not provide an immediate explanation, but her deteriorating condition eventually prompted exploratory surgery.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2024
Mona has to have exploratory surgery, doesn’t look good.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Jim Nelson was having exploratory surgery for throat cancer in just a few days.
—Ruth Graham, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
To diagnose gallbladder obstructions in dogs, veterinarians may conduct a series of tests including blood work, ultrasound imaging, and sometimes even exploratory surgery.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hanna Park, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
After three rounds of antibiotics, McEneaney decided to do exploratory surgery and ended up spotting a piece of hair out of the corner of his eye.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 22 May 2025
The next step was going to be exploratory surgery in his lower left leg that could have required months of rehabilitation.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024
Her husband underwent exploratory surgery and then was to be transferred to the York Street campus.
—Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2024
Clinical investigations could not provide an immediate explanation, but her deteriorating condition eventually prompted exploratory surgery.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2024
Mona has to have exploratory surgery, doesn’t look good.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Jim Nelson was having exploratory surgery for throat cancer in just a few days.
—Ruth Graham, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
To diagnose gallbladder obstructions in dogs, veterinarians may conduct a series of tests including blood work, ultrasound imaging, and sometimes even exploratory surgery.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Exploratory surgery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exploratory%20surgery. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share