Another Word for Research: 14 Synonyms with Examples
Research is careful study to find out new facts or reach new conclusions; as a verb it means to carry out that study. Swap it to stress investigation, experiment or reading.
As a noun: careful study to discover facts
As a verb: to study something carefully
- investigate
- study
- explore
- examine
- look into
- analyse
- probe
Need a different word?Look up any word in the synonym finder →
How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- study
- One piece of research, or the general act of studying.
- investigation
- Research aimed at finding the truth about something, often a problem.
- inquiry
- An official investigation, or a formal question.
- fieldwork
- Research done in real places rather than a lab or library.
- look into
- Informal phrasal verb; to find out more about something.
- probe
- To investigate closely; common in news headlines.
Example sentences
- study: A recent study found that walking improves memory.
- investigation: The investigation revealed several safety failures.
- inquiry: The government launched an inquiry into the flooding.
- fieldwork: Students spend a week doing fieldwork on the coast.
- look into: I'll look into cheaper train tickets.
- probe: Journalists probed the company's accounts for months.
More from WordNet
Less common or more specialised words WordNet lists for other senses of “research”. Check the meaning before you use one.
verb: search
noun: enquiry
WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Used under the WordNet licence.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “research”?
The most useful alternatives are “study”, “investigation”, “inquiry”, “analysis”, “exploration”. For the main sense (careful study to discover facts), “study” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “study” and “investigation”?
study: One piece of research, or the general act of studying. investigation: Research aimed at finding the truth about something, often a problem.