exploratory

[ ik-splawr-uh-tawr-ee ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or concerned with exploration:

   an exploratory operation.

2. inclined to make explorations.

Other Words From

• ex·plor·a·tive·ly adverb
• non·ex·plor·a·tive adjective
• non·ex·plor·a·to·ry adjective
• un·ex·plor·a·tive adjective
• un·ex·plor·a·to·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploratory¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Latin word explōrātōrius. See exploration, -ory ¹

Example Sentences

The following bits of journalism are more exploratory than hard-hitting.

From TechCrunch

Campa-Najjar, who had formed an exploratory committee, announced earlier this week that he believed the district should be represented by a woman of color after also releasing polling showing he was the leading Democrat in the race.

From Voice of San Diego

This is more of an exploratory technique, so test yourself and try finding what feels good to you.

From Popular-Science

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer took the next stop in his long, drawn-out flirtation with a run for governor of California by announcing Monday that he’s formed an exploratory committee for a bid.

From Voice of San Diego

Essentially, they think an ancestral archaeon began reaching into the world around it and associating with bacteria through these exploratory blebs of membrane.

From Quanta Magazine

Unlike former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Huckabee is not immediately forming an exploratory committee.

From The Daily Beast

Rand Paul announced he would form an exploratory committee for a Senate campaign at just the right time, in May 2009.

From The Daily Beast

Gorgeous gave them an opportunity to take on a serious subject in a fun, exploratory way, McGill says.

From The Daily Beast

It is not an efficient way to write, but I love that exploratory phase, when even bad writing somehow seems promising.

From The Daily Beast

In February, he formed an exploratory committee for his congressional bid.

From The Daily Beast

From this exploratory trip, the boats returned to their newly named harbour of Brest, on the 13th.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the last book to which he should return at the close of his exploratory voyages.

From Project Gutenberg

In the latter case paring becomes necessary as an exploratory means to diagnosis.

From Project Gutenberg

The thinking of things out carefully over a second and third cup of coffee, cautious self exploratory reasoning.

From Project Gutenberg

This was our seventh exploratory trip after our sixth landing since entering the field of the sun Ponthis.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• curious
• seeking