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:
A therapist’s role is to ask questions and supportively help clients explore ways of navigating relationships with friends, family, co-workers and, most important, themselves in a way that aligns with their own personal goals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
"Our findings point to biological pathways involving inflammation and scarring and highlight molecular targets that future research can explore to better understand how coffee may influence liver health and who stands to benefit the most."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
“But I would love to explore some more British accents because you know, as an island, we have some of the most interesting, unique, and fun accents,” he told Evans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Sometime in the 2010s, McElwee received a call from director and producer Steve Carr, who wanted to explore remaking his breakthrough documentary, 1986’s “Sherman’s March,” into a narrative film.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
The dark interior calls to me, practically asking me to explore.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Their conversation explores how Trump makes decisions, how his government is structured, and the fundamentally different way he experiences his second term compared to his first.
From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026
The film explores conversations around eating disorders, mental health, alcohol dependency and difficult family dynamics.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
The personal themes he explores are exactly what you would expect from an early-20s rocker raised in the public eye — namely, relationship expectations and existential fears about the future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
A new study by Amirnezam Amiri of the University of Arkansas, currently available as a pre-print on arXiv and scheduled for publication in Universe, explores exactly how these enormous structures might appear through modern telescopes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
This book explores a holistic, artistic, and integrated approach to understanding the developmental connections between music and children.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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
“Sherman’s March” loosely explored McElwee’s hapless search for love during a trip to his native South, where he planned on making a film about a Civil War campaign through the area.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
The club have explored a number of defensive options, including holding talks over Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix and showing interest in former Manchester City defender John Stones and Como's Jacobo Ramon.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Laura Marnas, who has explored every inch of town as director of the St. Tropez office for the Magrey & Sons real estate agency, appreciates its “bohemian-chic ambience away from the hustle and bustle.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
A silence fell over the room as they read, interrupted only by the gentle rustling of pages turning and the creaking slide of drawers as Pet explored the archive.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
By the People is Slate’s end-of-term project exploring how ordinary Americans have shaped the meaning of the Constitution outside the Supreme Court.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026
The council has backed exploring a separate tax on those arriving by cruise ship, external in response to a Scottish government consultation.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
What is it you’re exploring in those spaces?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Others include OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are exploring stock-market debuts in the coming months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
I think these two gentlemen just want to get away from our crowded fort and go exploring.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
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.
