exploratory
adjective
ex·plor·ato·ry
ik-ˈsplȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-ē 
: of, relating to, or being exploration
exploratory surgery
exploratory drilling for oil
Examples of exploratory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the hunt for petroleum, oil companies drilled dozens of exploratory wells and burned millions of dollars.
—
Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
After a brief exploratory talent search, all parties took their foot off the gas to wait for the new cycle when more big names became available and to give the script more time.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
And environmental groups sounded the alarm as oil company ConocoPhillips proposed more oil drilling exploration in Alaska, including drilling four new exploratory wells in the NPRA.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 20 Nov. 2025
The network has also discussed collaborations with Crooked Media, the digital media company behind Pod Save America — though much like its talks with ascendant never-Trump media company The Bulwark, the discussions have been more friendly and exploratory than serious, Semafor is told.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exploratory
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Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
After a brief exploratory talent search, all parties took their foot off the gas to wait for the new cycle when more big names became available and to give the script more time.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
And environmental groups sounded the alarm as oil company ConocoPhillips proposed more oil drilling exploration in Alaska, including drilling four new exploratory wells in the NPRA.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 20 Nov. 2025
The network has also discussed collaborations with Crooked Media, the digital media company behind Pod Save America — though much like its talks with ascendant never-Trump media company The Bulwark, the discussions have been more friendly and exploratory than serious, Semafor is told.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exploratory
Cite this Entry
“Exploratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exploratory. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
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exploratory
adjective
ex·plor·ato·ry
ik-ˈsplōr-ə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˈsplȯr-, -ˌtȯr-
: of, relating to, or being exploration
exploratory surgery
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