research

noun re·search \ ri-ˈsərch , ˈrē-ˌsərch \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

1 : careful or diligent search

2 : studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws

3 : the collecting of information about a particular subject

See research defined for English-language learners

See research defined for kids

Examples of research in a Sentence

She conducts research into the causes of Alzheimer's disease.
Recent research shows that the disease is caused in part by bad nutrition.
The study is an important piece of research.
He did a lot of research before buying his car.

Recent Examples of research from the Web

In theory, the concept of eating to reduce inflammation makes sense, says Cappelli, especially as research builds about the influence of gut microbes on the immune system.

— emily sohn, Washington Post, "Tom Brady says an anti-inflammation diet is good for him. Would it work for you?," 5 Nov. 2017
Theresa May’s team is working on how to disclose the documents after Parliament passed a motion calling on the government to release internal research.

— ian wishart, Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Bulletin: What’s Changed in 10 Years," 3 Nov. 2017
So the scientists took the pup to their research facility to nurse the orphan back to health.

— marlene adelstein, Longreads, "When a Mother and Daughter Reverse Roles," 3 Nov. 2017
Hospital clinicians used medical center research to bring in new treatments at places like the cancer center, which got National Cancer Institute designation in 2012.

— andy marso, kansascity, "20 years ago, KU Hospital was struggling, but now it's thriving, with new development and happier patients | The Kansas City Star," 3 Nov. 2017
Scherich, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, created a dance to explain her Ph.D. research with aerial silk acrobatics and glowing hula hoops.

— roni dengler, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: Dancing Ph.D. students and unearthing the Great Pyramid’s secrets—with cosmic rays," 3 Nov. 2017
However, that same research has shown that these barriers aren’t very strong.

— charlotte cowles, The Cut, "I Don’t Want My Co-workers to Know How Rich I Am," 3 Nov. 2017
The project, sponsored by DARPA, America’s main military-research agency, is known as Matrix.

— The Economist, "Military dronesThe latest unmanned drone is a version of an existing manned one," 2 Nov. 2017
Prevent an inexperienced exterminator from coming into your house by doing your research beforehand.

— amanda greene, Woman's Day, "10 Things Your Exterminator Wants to Tell You," 23 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'research.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of research

Middle French recerche, from recercher to go about seeking, from Old French recerchier, from re- + cerchier, sercher to search — more at search

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1577

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

research Synonyms

Synonyms

delving, disquisition, examination, exploration, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, investigation, probation, probe, probing, study;

Related Words

quest;

audit, check;

checkup, diagnosis, inspection;

hearing, interrogation, trial;

feeler, query, question;

poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey;

challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz;

rehearing, reinvestigation;

self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching;

research

verb

transitive verb

1 : to search or investigate exhaustively

research a problem

2 : to do research for

research a book

intransitive verb

: to engage in research

—

researchable

play \ri-ˈsər-chə-bəl, ˈrē-ˌsər-\ adjective

—

researcher

noun

See research defined for English-language learners

Examples of research in a Sentence

He spent the summer researching his dissertation.
Before going out to eat, she researched area restaurants.
The reporter made hundreds of telephone calls while researching the story.

Recent Examples of research from the Web

While Haigh’s portrayal of the horse-racing world feels thought-through and researched, some of these briefer encounters have a whiff of tourism.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Lean on Pete: A Deeply Sad Tale of a Boy and His Horse," 5 Apr. 2018
Staff is also researching ways to save on the district's energy costs through solar panels and tying capital improvements in with achieving other efforts aimed at improving safety, health and environmental sustainability.

— emily k. coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "Woodland District 50 starts process to move school start times," 26 Mar. 2018
Mattresses, furniture, linens, even grocery delivery can be researched and purchased online, a veritable lifestyle in a box.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "Kitchenware startups targeting millennial home cooks," 22 Mar. 2018
Dowd has researched the consequences for the American Academy of Pediatrics and seen them firsthand during a four-decade medical career in which she's treated at least 500 juvenile gunshot victims.

— john woodrow cox and steven rich, courant.com, "What happens to children who survive school shootings in America?," 22 Mar. 2018
Left Bank is deeply researched, but Poirier’s narrative suffers for its failure to reckon meaningfully with the extent of the war’s horrors, particularly industrialized murder on an unprecedented scale.

— nina renata aron, The New Republic, "The Spirit of the Left Bank," 21 Mar. 2018
Regarding mental health, Wagner said Fairview Park City Schools has been researching the topic for the last two years.

— john benson, cleveland.com, "Fairview Park City School students hold Day of Kindness on March 14," 16 Mar. 2018
While working on a historical novel a few years ago, Dahmen began researching cookware and kitchens of the time period.

— kristine m. kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Metalsmith's handmade artisan cookware is built to last," 2 Mar. 2018
Melbourne Zoo is now researching the insect’s lifestyle, behavior, biology and diet.

— ralph steadman, Discover Magazine, "Where the Wild Things Aren't," 1 Mar. 2018