Synonyms of study

study 1 of 2

noun

ˈstə-dē 

1

as in investigation

a systematic search for the truth or facts about something

conducted a study to determine the sleep needs of adolescents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• investigation
• examination
• inquiry
• exploration
• research
• probe
• probing
• inspection
• survey
• inquisition
• delving
• probation
• disquisition
• inquest
• questionnaire
• audit
• examen
• quest
• hearing
• diagnosis
• question
• trial
• interrogation
• checkup
• poll
• challenge
• query
• check
• quiz
• rehearing
• reinvestigation
• questionary
• cross-examination
• grilling
• soul-searching
• feeler
• self-examination
• self-reflection
• going-over
• self-exploration
• self-questioning
• self-scrutiny

2

as in daydreaming

the state of being lost in thought

found her staring at the fire in a deep study

Synonyms & Similar Words

• daydreaming
• trance
• contemplation
• meditation
• daydream
• dream
• reverie
• woolgathering
• musing
• preoccupation
• vision
• absorption
• abstraction
• fantasy
• pipe dream
• illusion
• chimera
• delusion
• unreality
• hallucination
• absentmindedness
• conceit
• figment
• fancy
• phantasm

3

as in consideration

a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something

the idea is under study by the city council

Synonyms & Similar Words

• consideration
• deliberation
• debate
• account
• thought
• reflection
• advisement
• contemplation
• meditation
• rumination
• introspection
• pondering
• hesitation
• cogitation
• indecision
• premeditation
• agonizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disregard
• neglect
• short shrift

study

2 of 2

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

• research
• read
• analyze
• learn
• go over
• bone (up)
• memorize
• go through
• understand
• find out
• deduce
• know
• restudy
• swot
• grind
• comprehend
• cram
• con
• apprehend
• digest
• grasp
• absorb

2

as in to learn

to commit to memory

having carefully studied the document, he could repeat what it said exactly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• learn
• memorize
• know
• remember
• understand
• recall
• grasp
• retain
• think (of)
• con
• recollect
• get
• comprehend
• accept
• relive
• apprehend
• mind
• digest
• absorb
• reminisce (about)
• hark back (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• unlearn
• ignore
• disregard
• pass over
• slight
• neglect
• overlook
• disremember
• misremember
• slur (over)
• overpass

3

as in to debate

to give serious and careful thought to

scientists who study the origin of the universe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• debate
• ponder
• contemplate
• consider
• question
• entertain
• explore
• review
• analyze
• eye
• weigh
• look at
• meditate
• think (about or over)
• deliberate
• chew on
• ruminate
• mull (over)
• wrestle (with)
• cogitate
• chew over
• pore (over)
• revolve
• kick around
• turn
• perpend
• beat one's brains out (about)
• digest
• conclude
• cudgel one's brains (about)
• muse (upon)
• reason
• believe
• reflect (on or upon)
• reminisce
• speculate (about)
• dwell (on or upon)
• fixate (on or upon)
• conceive
• brood (about or over)
• fret (about or over)
• obsess (about or over)
• opine
• absorb
• drink (in)
• assimilate
• second-guess

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• slight
• disregard
• overlook
• reject
• dismiss
• pooh-pooh

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

Recent Examples of study

Noun

The study was conducted to better understand the true prevalence and distribution of alpha-gal IgE, antibodies produced by the body to fight the presence of the sugar molecule alpha-gal. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

One important finding from the study was the significance of informal learning opportunities that principals pursued on their own. — Mac Murray, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026

Verb

Like Parreno and Gordon, Bacon (who studied pictures of cricketers and soccer players) used strong doses of artifice to lead us toward a deeper reality. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026

The team combined two fast-growing areas of quantum research by using a magnetic topological material to study non-Hermitian physics, an emerging field that examines systems with unconventional behavior. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Phrases Containing study

• case study
• course of study