research
Americannoun
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research
plural
verb (used without object)
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researches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
researched,
past participle, past
-
researching
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
researches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
researched,
past participle, past
-
researching
present participle
noun
verb
Synonym Usage
See investigation.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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researchernoun
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researchistnoun
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underresearchverb (used with object)
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proresearchadjective
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researchableadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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researchsimple
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researchessimple
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have researchedperfect
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has researchedperfect
-
am researchingprogressive
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are researchingprogressive
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is researchingprogressive
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have been researchingperfect progressive
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has been researchingperfect progressive
Past
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researchedsimple
-
had researchedperfect
-
was researchingprogressive
-
were researchingprogressive
-
had been researchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of research
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
Explanation
In their spare time, teenagers LOVE doing extra research, by investigating the facts of a certain subject and studying and recording what they learn. And if you believe that, you need to do more research on the habits of teenagers. Research comes from the Old French word recercher, meaning "seek out," or "search closely." When you do research, you are searching for knowledge and facts. Although you write plenty of research papers in college, on anything from the Industrial Revolution to the meaning behind a fur-lined teacup, the term is often used when talking about science, because scientists use step-by-step research to prove what is true, or not true, in their line of work.
Vocabulary lists containing research
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Journalism
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 9
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The research to fix it is a bit unconventional.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Guio Jacinto, head of the union’s research department in Toronto, said the current dispute at Stelco adds to the company’s troubled history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
"This distinction crowns more than 10 years of research, testing and commitment to pushing the boundaries of electric and solar-powered flight," SolarStratos said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
But research showing cognitive benefits in humans is sparse, as is that on cell repair and longevity — a category that’s particularly hard to study anyway.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
“I’m mostly just fetching coffee and answering the phone, but I might get to do research or edit interviews occasionally.”
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
"The recent increases in space spending elsewhere in Europe matter," says Gabriele Piazza, an economist at the London School of Economics who researches government procurement of advanced technology.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Your wife and her siblings are the “primary grievers,” says Joanne Cacciatore, a professor at Arizona State University who researches traumatic grief.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
“For individual investors, this is a real breakthrough,” said Irene Aldridge, an engineer and former quant trader who now researches the intersection of AI and financial markets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Bauer researches historical and contemporary right-wing movements in the United States and recently wrote a book called “Making the Liberal Media.”
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
He insists that knowledge comes not from books only, but from the study of things; yet the simple truth is that the ocean of books is as important to his researches as are the oceans.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
If you don’t already have a camera, or are replacing one, stay away from cheap or unfamiliar brands, says Paul Marrapese, a California cybersecurity specialist who has researched hacked webcams.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
He frames his deeply researched four-hour psych eval “Musk” as the reality check we all need when the world’s richest, most cult-powerful human keeps pushing migration to Mars.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
They’ve researched history and the law, war-gamed what-ifs, divvied up responsibilities and drafted emergency lawsuits and temporary restraining orders so they can be hurried into court at a moment’s notice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
"But I have researched the area we moved to and don't think house prices are going to drop."
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
And, with his help, by spring I have a 112-page thesis, researched, footnoted, documented, and neatly bound in black leather.
From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom
After researching your book, what have you found about people’s common understanding of Rod Serling and “The Twilight Zone” that might not be entirely accurate?
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026
“When we started researching and looking at other books, TV shows and movies about vampires, none of them were consistent,” Wiseman says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
In researching the series, which he wrote with Samuel Bailey, McGovern decided to get a behind-the-scenes look inside real-life YOIs.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
MarketWatch: What surprised you most while researching the book?
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
“My son has been living abroad for two years,” the man’s father said, “earning a Ph.D. in Boston, researching in the field of fiber optics.”
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
