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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
According to one 2019 study published in the journal Sleep, moms and dads can expect to experience some form of sleep deprivation for the first six years of their child's life. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
Rebecca studied English and art history at Cornell University and served in the Peace Corps in Thailand. Rebecca Grant june 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025 Measurements like the one Ghosh was studying are a key way of investigating the properties of the Higgs boson. Matt Von Hippel, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for study
Recent Examples of Synonyms for study
Noun
  • Based on public feedback and the survey that closed June 17, Baird-Spencer said, the top three alternatives are expected to be presented to the City Council for consideration.
    Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 June 2025
  • Performance impacts are a consideration too, including physiological and mental impacts for athletes competing in extreme heat or experiencing long breaks during play.
    Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Another notebook contained lists of search engines for researching people’s personal information.
    Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 27 June 2025
  • Experts advise focusing on preparation, including refundable airfare and researching booking policies, to minimize potential travel problems.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The key is to know yourself and schedule a vacation that fits you, not to overthink (and over-plan) things, and learn from your mistakes.
    Lieke ten Brummelhuis, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Most life on Earth, including humans, learns by moving, touching, failing, and adjusting.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • While the concept of vibe coding remains ill-defined, and its merits are hotly debated within the enterprise software community, there is a broad consensus around the underlying goal of making AI agents easier to code and deploy.
    Maribel Lopez, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • However, whether this move will have a positive financial impact for the government has been debated by experts.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Italian law dictates that citizens over 80 must renew their license every two years and complete a medical examination that tests mental acuity.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 19 June 2025
  • That hasn’t, however, extended to a deep examination of last season’s Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
    Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • The music ranges widely and might include Italo disco, trance, house and dark techno.
    Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 1 May 2025
  • While Anoushka’s work is still rooted in the age-old classical traditions of India, her trilogy deftly incorporates elements of trance, ambient and other more contemporary Western electronic music styles to create an often-melancholic old world/new world synthesis.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The jury of six men and six women declared themselves at an impasse after multiple days of deliberation, unable to reach a unanimous verdict on all three charges.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 2025
  • On the fourth day of deliberations, the jury in Dedham, Mass., found Read not guilty of second-degree murder, the most serious charge.
    KC Baker, People.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • November 18 will also see Simon & Schuster release an unabridged audiobook of 2004’s Chronicles: Volume One, read by Sean Penn.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 25 June 2025
  • Requiring truck drivers to speak and read English isn’t new, but the penalty for not meeting the proficiency standard is becoming more severe.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Study.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/study. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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