study

1 of 2

noun

plural studies
1
: a state of contemplation : reverie
2
a
: application of the mental faculties to the acquisition of knowledge
years of study
b
: such application in a particular field or to a specific subject
the study of Latin
c
: careful or extended consideration
the proposal is under study
d(1)
: a careful examination or analysis of a phenomenon, development, or question
(2)
: the published report of such a study
3
: a building or room devoted to study or literary pursuits
4
: purpose, intent
it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknessesJane Austen
5
a
: a branch or department of learning : subject
often used in plural
American studies
b
: the activity or work of a student
returning to her studies after vacation
c
: an object of study or deliberation
every gesture a careful studyMarcia Davenport
d
: something attracting close attention or examination
6
: a person who learns or memorizes something (such as a part in a play)
usually used with a qualifying adjective
he's a quick study
7
: a literary or artistic production intended as a preliminary outline, an experimental interpretation, or an exploratory analysis of specific features or characteristics
8
: a musical composition for the practice of a point of technique

study

2 of 2

verb

studied; studying

intransitive verb

1
a
: to engage in study
b
: to undertake formal study of a subject
2
dialect : meditate, reflect
3

transitive verb

1
: to read in detail especially with the intention of learning
2
: to engage in the study of
study biology
3
4
: to consider attentively or in detail
studying his face for a reaction
studier noun
Choose the Right Synonym for study

consider, study, contemplate, weigh mean to think about in order to arrive at a judgment or decision.

consider may suggest giving thought to in order to reach a suitable conclusion, opinion, or decision.

refused even to consider my proposal

study implies sustained purposeful concentration and attention to details and minutiae.

study the plan closely

contemplate stresses focusing one's thoughts on something but does not imply coming to a conclusion or decision.

contemplate the consequences of refusing

weigh implies attempting to reach the truth or arrive at a decision by balancing conflicting claims or evidence.

weigh the pros and cons of the case

Examples of study in a Sentence

Noun Becoming a doctor requires years of study. You can improve your knowledge of the natural world by study and observation. She will return to her studies after vacation. He left the service to pursue his studies. The agency conducted an environmental study. He took part in a study of childhood obesity. The study of the new drug will be published next year. Verb Did you study for the test? She's studying to be a teacher. I studied the request carefully. She was studying his face for a reaction. The proposal was studied in great detail. The effects of the drug have never been thoroughly studied.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In a study released last year, Waymo found that its crash rate was 85% lower than that of humans. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Not all people in the 2023 study were able to feel the phantom sensations that allow MiniTouch to function. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 Back in 2018, when Smilodon roamed the Earth and Donald John Trump roamed the White House, a significant study reported on by ... Wilfred Reilly, National Review, 14 Mar. 2024 Upon his return, he was taken to a small dark room at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport for questioning about his studies. Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 One key state requirement is known as the 85th percentile rule — cities must use traffic study data and establish a road’s speed limit based on the speed that 85 out of 100 drivers are doing in good weather during daytime hours. Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 Preparation and Requirements: CFA® candidates need a bachelor’s degree and four years of work experience, with around 300 hours of study per exam level. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 But why? Before the regional air mobility study that Antcliff led, NASA did the Zip aviation study, which modeled out the economics of small, electric, autonomous passenger aircraft flying from small fields. Michael Barnard, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 In studies, people report feeling stressed and fatigued following even a brief vigilance task. Matthew Robison, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Online observers have studied this photo and allege that it, too, was manipulated somehow, drawing comparisons to a past photo of the princess and saying that her image had been Photoshopped into that picture. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 By 2015, Travers was studying at Sciences Po, a prestigious university in Paris. Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Surely, these were on cars of people who had studied or taught at Cornell and were now studying or teaching at the University of Michigan. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 15 Mar. 2024 But a small number die during this process and are then studied for insights about diet, age, growth, reproduction and toxicology. Gareth J. Fraser, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 The group studies temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed and other factors to evaluate data and help agricultural, industrial and municipal planners. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024 In fact, researchers have been studying a similar tactic among Chinese internet users for more than a decade. Christie Taylor, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024 An Unusual Case: After months of studying a man in Germany who received 217 doses of different Covid vaccine types, a team of doctors reported that the subject had a robust immunity response and no side effects. Julie Bosman, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The hunting tactic has been driving sharks away from the coastal waters around Cape Town, according to scientists studying the shark-hunting duo. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'study.' 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 English studie, from Anglo-French estudie, from Latin studium, from studēre to devote oneself, study; probably akin to Latin tundere to beat — more at contusion

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of study was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near study

Cite this Entry

“Study.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/study. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

study

1 of 2 noun
plural studies
1
: a state of thinking about something steadily : reverie
2
a
: use of the mind to acquire knowledge
years of study
b
: careful or prolonged consideration
the proposed change is under study
c
: a careful examination or investigation of something
also : a report or publication based on such a study
3
: a building or room devoted to study, reading, or writing
4
a
: a division or area of learning : subject
American studies
b
: the actions or work of a student
returned to her studies after vacation
5
: a person who learns or memorizes something (as a part in a play)
usually used with an adjective
he's a quick study

study

2 of 2 verb
studied; studying
1
: to engage in study or the study of
studied hard
liked to study geography
2
: to give close attention to
study a part in a play
studied the request carefully

More from Merriam-Webster on study

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!