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study

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verb

1
as in to research
to use the mind to acquire knowledge you'll have to study hard and learn all about the Revolutionary War in order to pass the history test

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb study differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of study are consider, contemplate, and weigh. While all these words mean "to think about in order to arrive at a judgment or decision," study implies sustained purposeful concentration and attention to details and minutiae.

study the plan closely

When might consider be a better fit than study?

The meanings of consider and study largely overlap; however, consider may suggest giving thought to in order to reach a suitable conclusion, opinion, or decision.

refused even to consider my proposal

When would contemplate be a good substitute for study?

The synonyms contemplate and study are sometimes interchangeable, but contemplate stresses focusing one's thoughts on something but does not imply coming to a conclusion or decision.

contemplate the consequences of refusing

When is weigh a more appropriate choice than study?

Although the words weigh and study have much in common, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of study
Noun
Very little to none of these are covered by Medicare or traditional health insurance, and prices have generally risen by more than inflation, according to a Genworth and CareScout study measuring costs of long-term care services. Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025 Previous studies, however, have indicated that high sugar intake can trigger inflammation that affects brain chemistry. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
For example, soldiers who were studied during parachute training showed dramatic stress responses within minutes of their first jump, but in later training jumps, that stress changed to thrill. Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025 Ferree has been studying longevity since 2014. Renée Onque, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for study
Recent Examples of Synonyms for study
Noun
  • He has not been seen in public since March, but the investigation of his activities had not previously been disclosed by Chinese authorities.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Related Stories Ofcom’s investigation found that the documentary’s failure to disclose that the 13-year-old narrator’s father held a position in the Hamas-run administration constituted a material breach of rules requiring factual programs to provide audiences with accurate information.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The colorful flowers are perfect for a photo-op or casual daydreaming.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Those daydreaming of taking in the sweeping sunrise vistas across Middle Harbour just got lucky because one of the most significant abodes on the street just surfaced on market for the first time in over four decades.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Each country chooses its own film to submit for Oscar consideration, and in Israel, the winner of best film at the Ophir Awards is automatically the country’s submission.
    Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But some property owners have signed a petition opposing the initiative, which could keep it from going to the Common Council for consideration.
    Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • He’d initially been inspired by pioneering video channels such as Every Frame a Painting, which made carefully edited, thoroughly researched deep dives into the art of moviemaking.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The organization has previously researched two other extensions.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • My history and the lessons learned My record of immediately reversing transfers is historically bad, with this season no exception!
    Holly Shand, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • One cornerstone is Bayesian optimization, an active-learning strategy that greedily picks the next best experiment.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Though their claims were the basis of the Amityville Horror franchise, the validity of the Lutzs' story has been heavily debated over the years.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The commissioners debated this issue as well.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In 2017, Davidson undertook a two-year examination of the college’s ties to slavery and racist policies by the college’s Commission on Race and Slavery.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Sure enough, on closer examination, it was confirmed that the mirror was made from Webster Sterling silver and, based on online listings and previous auction prices, is potentially worth anywhere between $75 and $200.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Chamomile softens the flame, vanilla sweetens the smoke, and the result is all loving, never strange… a total trance.
    Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
  • My deep tissue massage using warm basalt stones and a local scrub made with salt from the nearby ponds left me in a dreamlike trance.
    Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Study.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/study. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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