research

[ ri-surch, ree-surch ]

noun

1. diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc.:

   recent research in medicine.

   Synonyms: study, scrutiny

2. a particular instance or piece of research.

verb (used without object)

1. to make researches; investigate carefully.

verb (used with object)

1. to make an extensive investigation into:

   to research a matter thoroughly.

   Synonyms: scrutinize, examine, inquire, study

research

/ ˈriːsɜːtʃ; rɪˈsɜːtʃ /

noun

1. systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a subject

verb

1. to carry out investigations into (a subject, problem, etc)

Derived Forms

• reˈsearcher, noun
• reˈsearchable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·searcha·ble adjective
• re·searcher re·searchist noun
• prore·search adjective
• under·re·search verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of research¹

First recorded in 1570–80; (verb) from Middle French recercher “to seek,” Old French, equivalent to re- re- + cercher search; (noun) from Middle French recerche

Word History and Origins

Origin of research¹

C16: from Old French recercher to seek, search again, from re- + cercher to search

Synonym Study

See investigation.

Example Sentences

The duo spent the first year in research and engaging with farmers.

From TechCrunch

Dan Finn-Foley, head of energy storage at energy research firm Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, compared Google’s plan to ordering eggs for breakfast.

From Quartz

Users will give Deep Longevity the right to conduct anonymized research using their data as part of the app’s terms and conditions, Zhavoronkov said.

From Fortune

There’s also the Wilhelm Reich Museum, located at “Orgonon” in Rangeley, Maine, which was previously Reich’s estate—where he conducted questionable orgone research in the later years of his career.

From Popular-Science

When we started doing research on these topics, we were too focused on political institutions.

From Freakonomics

Have you tried to access the research that your tax dollars finance, almost all of which is kept behind a paywall?

From The Daily Beast

Have a look at this telling research from Pew on blasphemy and apostasy laws around the world.

From The Daily Beast

And Epstein continues to steer money toward universities to advance scientific research.

From The Daily Beast

The research literature, too, asks these questions, and not without reason.

From The Daily Beast

We also have a growing body of biological research showing that fathers, like mothers, are hard-wired to care for children.

From The Daily Beast

We find by research that smoking was the most general mode of using tobacco in England when first introduced.

From Project Gutenberg

This class is composed frequently of persons of considerable learning, research and intelligence.

From Project Gutenberg

Speaking from recollection, it appears to be a work of some research; but I cannot say how far it is to be relied on.

From Project Gutenberg

Thomas Pope Blount died; an eminent English writer and a man of great learning and research.

From Project Gutenberg

That was long before invention became a research department full of engineers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• analysis
• exploration
• inquiry
• investigation
• probe