research

1 of 2

noun

re·search ri-ˈsərch

ˈrē-ˌsərch

Synonyms of research next

: 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

: the collecting of information about a particular subject

: careful or diligent search

research

2 of 2

verb

researched; researching; researches

transitive verb

: to search or investigate exhaustively

research a problem

: to do research for

research a book

intransitive verb

: to engage in research

researchable

ri-ˈsər-chə-bəl

ˈrē-ˌsər-

adjective

researcher noun

Example Sentences

Noun 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. Verb 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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Based on our research, there are excellent models right in the middle of that range, around the $1,000 mark. —

Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2023 That number dropped thanks to a narrowed definition of chronic pain and additional research. —

Julia Landwehr, Health, 24 May 2023 Since then, research has suggested that apps focused on suicide prevention may also help. —

Maggie Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2023 The Veozah approval, Kagan said, is the product of years of research and an important step toward caring for a large swatch of patients who have long lived without adequate treatment options. —

Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 17 May 2023 The research team’s experiences date back to the Apollo era. —

Carlos R. Muñoz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 After being thoroughly tested on research animals, Fleming suggested the device might be used on humans suffering from various terminal illnesses. —

Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2023 Micaela English and Margaret Badore also contributed reporting and research to this article. —

Lorraine Wilde, Treehugger, 16 May 2023 Its aim is to ensure that research and innovation efforts meet societal expectations and enhance planetary welfare. —

Mauritz Kop, Fortune, 16 May 2023

Verb

Shayne Davidson is an amateur genealogist from Ann Arbor who researches family trees as a hobby. —

John Carlisle, Freep.com, 28 May 2023 If a default happens, the government could halt many day-to-day operations, from staffing national parks at the start of tourist season to researching the newest coronavirus vaccines at the National Institutes of Health. —

Lisa Rein, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2023 The agency cannot produce a new rule overnight: Under federal law, staff must undertake a painstaking process of gathering and analyzing relevant data, researching incident reports, and justifying the need for regulation, which the commission will then vote on. —

Suzy Khimm, NBC News, 25 May 2023 The rights group researched the deaths of 25 people killed in the regions of Ayacucho, Apurimac and Puno between December 7, 2022 and February 9, 2023. —

Claudia Rebaza, CNN, 25 May 2023 In the past two years, these incidents have more than tripled according to data released by GTOA, a group that researches orcas in the region. —

Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 25 May 2023 In that novel, a CIA archivist researches a secret history of the Kennedy assassination. —

Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 10 May 2023 Howell wrote in a special cameo for Unser where Stone is researching a role for a new movie about racing when the two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 shows up to give him a few driving tips. —

Mykal Mceldowney, The Indianapolis Star, 4 May 2023 Everything from food source selection to gobbling patterns during different times of the year will be researched. —

Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 3 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'research.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of research was in 1577

See more words from the same year