Definition of RESEARCH

: studious inquiry or examination

especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws

: the collecting of information about a particular subject

: careful or diligent search

Noun

She conducts research into the causes of Alzheimer's disease. Recent research shows that the disease is caused in part by bad nutrition. The study is an important piece of research. He did a lot of research before buying his car. Verb

He spent the summer researching his dissertation. Before going out to eat, she researched area restaurants. The reporter made hundreds of telephone calls while researching the story.

Recent Examples on the Web

Together, the research team suggests these two factors may be contributing to the ailments and immune dysfunction many astronauts experience on the job. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025 As a result, forensic research used that profile to find new investigative leads, per CBS News. —Charna Flam, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025

None of this — from training, to research, to advances in our understanding of children’s brain development — would have been possible without public institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). —Jessica Cantlon, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025 Janet O'Shea, professor and chair of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at UCLA, researches the role of physicality and emotion in justice efforts. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for research

Etymology

Noun

Middle French recerche, from recercher to go about seeking, from Old French recerchier, from re- + cerchier, sercher to search — more at search

First Known Use

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of research was in 1577