research

noun

re·search | \ri-ˈsərch,

Definition of research

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

research

verb

researched; researching; researches

Definition of research (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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Examples of research in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Firefighters were still dying under similar circumstances 15 years later, despite a growing body of research that has caused many in the fire service to rethink tactics. — Mike Hendricks, kansascity, "In a tragic loop, firefighters continue to die from preventable mistakes," 13 July 2018 But such secrecy, said Dan Cryan, executive director of research at IHS Markit, a media analysis firm, is the company’s prerogative — perhaps even a canny way to keep the upper hand in negotiations with partners. — Daniel Arkin /, NBC News, "Apple's script for conquering Hollywood is a mystery so far," 13 July 2018 Gus’s compulsive behavior, a growing pile of research suggests, is distressingly common among captive animals. — David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "Did humans drive this polar bear insane?," 13 July 2018 The film feels no need to convince us Graves isn't deluded, but anyone curious enough to do a bit of research will find accredited Western-medicine physicians who take him seriously. — John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Milford Graves: Full Mantis': Film Review," 11 July 2018 These momentous shifts in the way Americans work have generated a lot of new research on the health effects of remote jobs and self-employment. — Markham Heid, Time, "Is Working Remotely Bad for Your Health?," 9 July 2018 There is not a great deal of research on this fungus. — Houston Chronicle, "Vicks VapoRub for poison ivy itch," 8 July 2018 One area of research at the Huntington that Lawrence thinks enough people don’t yet know: the institution’s exploration of the history and development of California. — Jessica Gelt, latimes.com, "Huntington Library names a new leader: the former president of Sarah Lawrence College," 5 July 2018 At issue: the Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers' 400-page review of research on how wetlands and small streams affect downstream rivers, lakes and estuaries. — Ariel Wittenberg, Science | AAAS, "Obama’s wetlands protection rule put ‘too much emphasis’ on science, Trump officials argue," 5 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Unsure what to do, Miller researched flag repairs and learned the company that made the flag also fixes them. — Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Oak Creek-based Eder Flag repairs treasured American flag damaged in Afghanistan," 13 July 2018 The Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center has researched school attacks for nearly 20 years. — Kolbe Nelson, CBS News, "Secret Service issues "actionable" guide to help identify students who may be a threat," 12 July 2018 This became my go-to browser on many occasions, including when researching this article. — Chris Wilkinson, Ars Technica, "1990, meet 2018: How far does 20MHz of Macintosh IIsi power go today?," 1 July 2018 Van Houten has researched how high-visibility enforcement of traffic rules for drivers affected yielding to pedestrians in Gainesville, Florida. — Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, "Death on foot: Distracted driving, cell phones seen as factors," 28 June 2018 Peshkin’s mother, Klavdia Logvinskaya, worked herself up from lab technician to engineer, researching additives that influence the properties of metal alloys. — Karen Weintraub, BostonGlobe.com, "A doctor wages personal and professional battles against aging," 23 June 2018 Peshkin’s mother, Klavdia Logvinskaya, worked herself up from lab technician to engineer, researching additives that influence the properties of metal alloys. — Karen Weintraub, STAT, "An anti-aging researcher faces the loss of his inspiration: his 96-year-old father," 20 June 2018 Hermione Lodge from Riverdale, which this writer didn’t realize until researching for this piece, proving this movie is still surprising fans to this day. — Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, "10 Reasons Why Can't Hardly Wait Is the Most Underrated Teen Movie of the '90s," 12 June 2018 Even the supposedly under-the-radar spots have been intensely researched and generously exposed by food critic Jonathan Gold. — Jenni Konner, Bon Appetit, "Café Bizou Has Zero Hype and My Undying Love," 6 June 2018

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.