research
Americannoun
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research
plural
verb (used without object)
-
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
-
researchableadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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researchsimple
-
researchessimple
-
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
-
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:
Dean co-founded Google Brain, the company’s pioneering AI deep-learning research team, in 2011.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
But the research team say separate data shows the components of their vaccine also survive cycling between temperatures of -20C and +40C.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Koray Kavukcuoglu, Google’s chief AI architect, will oversee the development of frontier AI research and the Gemini models.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Open-source research outlet Black Bird Group says Russia has made some of its smallest gains this summer since the start of the war, while Ukraine has launched counterattacks along other areas of the front line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
She’d forced him into a six-month-long joint research effort that far exceeded the scope of the two-page paper the homework assignment had called for.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania professor who researches homelessness and served as an L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
“The tenor of the conversation has changed,” said Maurice Schweitzer, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School who researches leadership and decision-making.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
According to the Music Economy Development initiative, which researches music industries globally, Kenya’s loses $55 million in potential revenue every year because of weak copyright laws and poor royalty collection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Dr Elizabeth Nassem from the University of Bradford researches school bullying and says uniform rules, many rooted in "Victorian era" thinking, are increasingly out of step with the realities facing young people today.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
I knew Mrs. Joe’s housekeeping to be of the strictest kind, and that my larcenous researches might find nothing available in the safe.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
The one-page documents, generated by a software program, took the place of the thoroughly researched files that federal immigration agents had traditionally prepared.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Meng Jiaxuan, 20, dolled up in her traditional outfit at Shichahai, said she had even researched poses for her photoshoot on Xiaohongshu.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
“I’ve not only researched the job search — I’ve lived through the job search.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
Reniqua Allen-Lamphere, a writer who's researched black attitudes toward the Dream, described the concept as one of America's "most enduring myths".
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
She used her computer to purchase a plane ticket to Los Angeles, booked an LA hotel, and researched used car dealers in the Las Vegas area.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
Time that was spent researching, making calls, sending emails, and asking for support, but not getting anywhere.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
I spend years researching and writing books that cobble together the nuggets of information I’ve gathered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
It was also researching and interviewing lots of different people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
While researching the condition, she came across many other women in similar situations who felt "unheard and unsupported".
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
“They’re probably researching the Gold Leaf Bank building,” said Sierra.
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
