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

And studies do suggest AI tools that make workers more efficient are freeing up time. — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Even in states like California and Texas where Latinos make up nearly 40% of the population, only around 6% to 7% of physicians identify as Latino, according to a study presented to the National Institutes of Health. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

Responding to three years of airspace violations, Spinu suggested, has allowed Romanian and allied pilots and commanders to study Russian munitions, flight patterns and capabilities -- plus their own abilities in engaging such threats. — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026

Heck, for instance, studies how discrepancy theory can be applied to improve large language models and other machine learning systems. — Quanta Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing study

• case study
• course of study