explore
Americanverb (used with object)
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to traverse or range over (a region, area, etc.) for the purpose of discovery.
to explore the island.
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to look into closely; scrutinize; examine.
Let us explore the possibilities for improvement.
- Synonyms:
- survey, investigate, research, study, probe
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Surgery. to investigate into, especially mechanically, as with a probe.
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Obsolete. to search for; search out.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to examine or investigate, esp systematically
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to travel to or into (unfamiliar or unknown regions), esp for organized scientific purposes
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(tr) med to examine (an organ or part) for diagnostic purposes
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obsolete (tr) to search for or out
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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explorabilitynoun
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explorernoun
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reexploreverb
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explorableadjective
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unexplorableadjective
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unexploredadjective
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exploringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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exploresimple
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exploressimple
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have exploredperfect
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has exploredperfect
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am exploringprogressive
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are exploringprogressive
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is exploringprogressive
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have been exploringperfect progressive
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has been exploringperfect progressive
Past
-
exploredsimple
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had exploredperfect
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was exploringprogressive
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were exploringprogressive
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had been exploringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of explore
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin explōrāre “to search out, examine,” equivalent to ex- ex- 1 ( def. ) + plōrāre “to cry out,” probably originally with reference to hunting cries
Explanation
Explore is a verb that means "to travel in or through." You might explore an island, a European city, or the rooms of an unfamiliar house. The Latin root of explore is explorare, meaning "investigate or search out." When you explore a new place, you want to see interesting things and get to know its people. Whenever you delve into something, or investigate it, you explore it. You can even explore an interest, like when you explore African art, or explore an idea or tendency in order to understand it — you can explore your fear of snakes to try to get over it.
Vocabulary lists containing explore
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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Words Middle Schoolers Should Use for Comparing and Contrasting Texts
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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:
As this series continues to explore how ordinary Americans—not just nine justices—can interpret and enforce the Constitution, the campaign for equal marriage offers examples and tools that dedicated citizens can use to make constitutional meaning.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026
Love has always been central to FLO's music, but on this album they explore its messier realities, with nights out providing the backdrop for stories of heartbreak, healing and friendship.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
At this stage in his lauded career, Bardem is interested only in roles that explore “contradictions with an underlying humanity.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Alternative-discipline proponents stress that restorative justice means school officials must no longer deliver consequences to misbehaving students; instead, they must explore restoration with them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
It is a tool that allows scientists to use sound waves to explore the ocean.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
Christopher Nolan’s epic ‘The Odyssey’ hits theaters, ‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ delivers interdimensional hilarity, Tom Hiddleston explores Pompeii, and much, much more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
And soon after, Hollywood's hottest couple appeared together for the London premiere of their fourth Spider-Man film together, which explores Peter's life years after the events of No Way Home.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
ARIRANG, named after a South Korean folk song, includes mostly English lyrics but explores themes including Korean identity after the band's hiatus for mandatory military service.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
Dhar explores that question in his book, “Thinking With Machines: The Brave New World of AI,” and on his podcast and newsletter, “Brave New World.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Each side continually explores the limits of the other’s tolerance, as in flights of nuclear bombers over the Arctic wastes; the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars—a few entries from a long and dolorous list.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
He hosted a video podcast, “Interesting Times,” for the New York Times opinion section which explored religion and politics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Fawaz's remarkable story is explored in the new BBC documentary Fighting for Freedom, which followed him as he prepared to defend his British title against Ryan Kelly in Wolverhampton in May.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The discovery of Masripithecus moghraensis suggests that important parts of ape evolutionary history may remain buried in regions that paleontologists have not yet explored in depth.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
While these alternatives are already being explored, new infrastructure will likely take years to come online, Pyziur said, which means Americans will have to deal with elevated prices.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
She had only explored a fraction of the island.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Chevron executives spoke of such alternatives to Hormuz, as the company has been exploring being one of the investors in the construction of a pipeline to connect Iraq’s oil fields to the Syrian coast.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
The deepest of those waters came from learning he does not like exploring his emotions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
As part of “By the People,” Slate’s series exploring how Americans can reclaim the Constitution and the law, Alexis Romero outlined three possible fixes for an out-of-control Supreme Court.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2026
FIFA, soccer’s highest governing body, is exploring raising more than $4 billion by selling a stake in a new commercial venture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Instead, he mumbled something under his breath about creating a law to ban all exploring in his neighborhood, before sighing and finally heading up to join Duane.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
