study

American  

[stuhd-ee] / ˈstʌd i /

noun

• studies
  plural

1. application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, such as by reading, investigation, or reflection.

   Long hours of study had made her an expert.

   Synonyms:

   consideration, thought, reading, research, inquiry

2. the cultivation of a particular branch of learning, science, or art.

   The study of law is challenging for many.

3. Often studies. a personal effort to gain knowledge.

   She made many sacrifices to pursue her studies.

4. something the mind is or will be applied to.

   Balzac's study was human nature.

5. research or a detailed examination and analysis of a subject, phenomenon, etc..

   She made a study of the transistor market for her firm.

6. a written account of detailed research, examination, or analysis.

   He published a study of Milton's poetry.

7. a well-defined, organized branch of learning or knowledge.

   Synonyms:

   area, field, subject

8. zealous endeavor or assiduous effort.

9. the object of endeavor or effort.

10. deep thought, reverie, or a state of abstraction.

    He was lost in study and did not hear us come in.

11. a room, in a house or other building, set apart for private intellectual effort, reading, writing, or the like.

    Synonyms:

    den, library

12. Also called étude.  Music. a composition that combines exercise in technique with a greater or lesser amount of artistic value.

13. Literature.

    1. a literary composition executed for exercise or as an experiment in a particular method of treatment.

    2. such a composition dealing in detail with a particular subject, as a single main character.

14. Art. something produced as an educational exercise, as a memorandum or record of observations or effects, or as a guide for a finished production.

    She made a quick pencil sketch of his hands as a study for the full portrait in oils.

15. a person, such as an actor, considered in terms of their quickness or slowness in memorizing lines.

    He's always been a quick study.

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verb (used without object)

• studies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• studied,
  past participle,  past
• studying
  present participle

1. to apply oneself to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or practice.

2. to apply oneself; endeavor.

3. to think deeply, reflect, or consider.

4. to take a course of learning, as at a college.

verb (used with object)

• studies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• studied,
  past participle,  past
• studying
  present participle

1. to apply oneself to acquiring a knowledge of (a subject).

2. to examine or investigate carefully and in detail.

   to study the political situation.

3. to observe attentively; scrutinize.

   to study a person's face.

4. to read carefully or intently.

   to study a book.

5. to endeavor to learn or memorize, as a part in a play.

6. to consider, as something to be achieved or devised.

7. to think out, as the result of careful consideration or devising.

study British  

/ ˈstʌdɪ /

verb

1. to apply the mind to the learning or understanding of (a subject), esp by reading

   to study languages

   to study all night

2. (tr) to investigate or examine, as by observation, research, etc

   to study the effects of heat on metal

3. (tr) to look at minutely; scrutinize

4. (tr) to give much careful or critical thought to

5. to take a course in (a subject), as at a college

6. (tr) to try to memorize

   to study a part for a play

7. (intr) to meditate or contemplate; reflect

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noun

1. 1. the act or process of studying

   2. ( as modifier )

      study group

2. a room used for studying, reading, writing, etc

3. (often plural) work relating to a particular discipline

   environmental studies

4. an investigation and analysis of a subject, situation, etc

   a study of transport provision in rural districts

5. a product of studying, such as a written paper or book

6. a drawing, sculpture, etc, executed for practice or in preparation for another work

7. a musical composition intended to develop one aspect of performing technique

   a study in spiccato bowing

8. theatre a person who memorizes a part in the manner specified

   a quick study

9. in a reverie or daydream

study Idioms  

1. see brown study.

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Synonym Usage

Study, consider, reflect, weigh imply fixing the mind upon something, generally doing so with a view to some decision or action. Study implies an attempt to obtain a grasp of something by methodical or exhaustive thought: to study a problem. To consider is to fix the thought upon something and give it close attention before making a decision concerning it, or beginning an action connected with it: to consider ways and means. Reflect implies looking back quietly over past experience and giving it consideration: to reflect on similar cases in the past. Weigh implies a deliberate and judicial estimate, as by a balance: to weigh a decision.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonstudy
  noun
• restudy
  noun
• studier
  noun
• outstudy
  verb (used with object)
• prestudy
  verb (used with object)
• studiable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• studies
  plural

Participles

• studying
  present
• studied
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• study
  simple
• studies
  simple
• have studied
  perfect
• has studied
  perfect
• am studying
  progressive
• are studying
  progressive
• is studying
  progressive
• have been studying
  perfect progressive
• has been studying
  perfect progressive

Past

• studied
  simple
• had studied
  perfect
• was studying
  progressive
• were studying
  progressive
• had been studying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will study
  simple
• will have studied
  perfect
• will be studying
  progressive
• will have been studying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of study

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun studi(e), from Old French estudie, from Latin studium, equivalent to stud(ēre) “to be busy with, devote oneself to, concentrate on” + -ium -ium; verb ultimately derivative of Latin noun

Explanation

It might seem as if you've gone catatonic, staring at a crack in the sidewalk for so long, but really you're observing it as closely as possible for your study of ant movement. Study has many different senses related to learning or concentrating. You might make a drawing of something you'll paint later — the drawing's a study. Your boss might ask you to do a study of your office's energy use. As a verb, study is for the work you do in the library, or for the act of really taking something in, the way you study your friend's face to see if she really forgot your birthday or if she's just joking.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

study studies studied studying

A recent Public Policy Institute of California study examined potential causes for the state’s 60% rise in homelessness since 2014.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

The study failed to find a county-level link between homelessness and rising rents, poverty or unemployment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

According to the study, this changing political environment may have made it easier for the sect to abandon its previously rigid position and adopt the more practical calendar used at the Temple.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

The researchers will also study whether the technologies can be scaled economically and practically for industrial use.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

When I told Ma I was closing the shop to go see Mrs. Kuen, she paused in the middle of grating a potato to study me.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Every day I try to find at least one child I didn’t know and have a personal conversation, ‘What middle school he went to, where does he live, are his studies OK.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026

Many studies also rely on simplified mathematical models, including the widely used Kuramoto model, that represent each node with only a single variable.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

However, publicly available studies on its projects “are non-existent, leaving few anchors on which to pin modeling assumptions.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Two studies confirm that sentiment, rather than anything fundamental, is the source of investors’ low equity exposure in October.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

We sit in silence for a minute, and I start to feel warm as Naano studies my face and adjusts the thin scarf that covers her hair.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

In 2024, while maths and physics were among the most popular subjects studied at A-level by boys they were not in the top five most popular subjects taken by girls.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

She attended Pasadena City College, where she studied film production, then used the residuals from the show to help pay for her tuition at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

"Specifically, it's important to examine the physics taking place in solid nitrogen materials under stress and strain, which can cause them to melt. These processes have never been studied in real detail in the laboratory."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

I studied architecture because that was my passion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

He and Gertrustein had studied Morse code all afternoon.

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

The team is now studying how food additives and ultra-processed foods may influence inflammation, oxidative stress, the metabolic profile of the blood, and the gut microbiota.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

His film takes a bird’s-eye approach to conflict, carefully studying how the systems set in place for our common good, on either side of the party or religious lines, can cause plenty of damage, too.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

She believes the increase of women studying Engineering centred degrees is a sign that things are changing.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

A spokesperson for Eli Lilly said the company is studying additional uses for GLP-1s, including to treat substance abuse disorders, heart disease, asthma, and other neurological and immunologic conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Moviegoers streamed past us and clotted the sidewalk, studying the posters encased in glass.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• application
• class
• consideration
• course
• debate
• examination
• exercise
• inquiry
• inspection
• investigation
• research
• review
• subject
• survey