Study — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈstə-dē/

Meaning & Definition of Study

Study (noun)

  1. a state of contemplation, reverie
  2. application of the mental faculties to the acquisition of knowledge
  3. such application in a particular field or to a specific subject

Study (verb)

  1. to engage in study
  2. to undertake formal study of a subject
  3. meditate, reflect

Study (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a systematic search for the truth or facts about something

    "conducted a study to determine the sleep needs of adolescents"

    similar: delving, disquisition, examen, examination, exploration, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, investigation, probation, probe, probing, research
    related: quest, audit, check, checkup, diagnosis, inspection, hearing, interrogation, trial, feeler, query, question, poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey, challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz, rehearing, reinvestigation, self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching

  2. the state of being lost in thought

    "found her staring at the fire in a deep study"

    similar: daydreaming, reverie, trance, woolgathering
    related: contemplation, meditation, musing, absentmindedness, absorption, abstraction, preoccupation, chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, hallucination, illusion, phantasm, pipe dream, unreality, vision

  3. a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something

    "the idea is under study by the city council"

    similar: account, advisement, consideration, debate, deliberation, reflection, thought
    related: cogitation, contemplation, meditation, pondering, rumination, introspection, agonizing, hesitation, indecision, premeditation
    near: disregard, neglect, short shrift

Study (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to use the mind to acquire knowledge

    "you'll have to study hard and learn all about the Revolutionary War in order to pass the history test"

    similar: bone (up), go over, go through
    related: cram, grind, swot (British), analyze, deduce, find out, con, learn, memorize, read, research, restudy, apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, understand, absorb, digest

  2. to commit to memory

    "having carefully studied the document, he could repeat what it said exactly"

    similar: con, learn, memorize
    related: hark back (to), mind (chiefly dialect), recall, recollect, relive, remember, reminisce (about), retain, think (of), accept, apprehend, comprehend, get, grasp, know, understand, absorb, digest
    opposite: unlearn
    near: disremember, forget, misremember, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)

  3. to give serious and careful thought to

    "scientists who study the origin of the universe"

    similar: chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with), beat one's brains out (about), chew on, cudgel one's brains (about), look at
    related: muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce, analyze, explore, review, conclude, reason, second-guess, speculate (about), brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over), believe, conceive, opine, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)
    near: disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, dismiss, pooh-pooh, reject

Related Entry: Case study (noun)

Case study is a different word from Study. The synonyms below are for case study, not for study.

  1. a published piece of writing about a person, group, or situation that has been studied over time

    "a case study of prisoners"

    "case studies of patients with the rare disease"

    similar: case history, account, chronicle, chronology, commentary, history, narration, narrative, record, report, story, version, deposition, documentation, testament, testimonial, testimony, witness, annals, blog, diary, journal, log, logbook, memoir, minutes, procès-verbal, anecdote, tale, yarn, epic, saga, gest, romance, recital, recitation

Related Entry: Course of study (phrase)

Course of study is a different word from Study. The synonyms below are for course of study, not for study.

  1. a series of lectures on a subject

    "He finally found a course of study he was interested in."

    similar: class, course
    related: elective, refresher, clinic, institute, seminar, survey course, minicourse, core, curriculum

Related Entry: Brown study (noun)

Brown study is a different word from Study. The synonyms below are for brown study, not for study.

  1. as in woolgathering, study

    similar: daydreaming, introspection, muse, navel-gazing, reflection, retrospection, reverie, study, trance, woolgathering, contemplation, meditation, cogitation, deliberation, musing, pondering, rumination

Related Entry: Courses of study (phrase)

Courses of study is a different word from Study. The synonyms below are for courses of study, not for study.

  1. a series of lectures on a subject

    "He finally found a course of study he was interested in."

    similar: classes, courses
    related: electives, refreshers, clinics, institutes, seminars, survey courses, minicourses, cores, curricula

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Study

The most common words with a similar meaning to Study:

delving, disquisition, examen, examination, exploration, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, investigation, probation, probe, probing, research, daydreaming, reverie, trance, woolgathering, account, advisement, consideration, debate, deliberation, reflection, thought, bone (up), con, learn, memorize, chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Study

Words with the opposite meaning of Study:

unlearn

Related Words for Study

quest, audit, check, checkup, diagnosis, inspection, hearing, interrogation, trial, feeler, query, poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey, challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz, rehearing, reinvestigation, self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching, contemplation, meditation

Near Antonyms of Study

disregard, neglect, short shrift, disremember, forget, misremember, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over), dismiss, pooh-pooh, reject

Word Forms of Study

Inflections: studies, studied, studying

Derived words: studier (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Study

Middle English studie, from Anglo-French estudie, from Latin studium, from studēre to devote oneself, study; probably akin to Latin tundere to beat contusion

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Study

Words & Phrases Containing Study

study hall, brown study, case study, course of study, self-study, work-study program, fast/quick study, feasibility study

Frequently Asked Questions about Study

What does "Study" mean?

"Study" means a state of contemplation, reverie. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a state of contemplation, reverie. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Study"?

Other words for "Study" include delving, disquisition, examen, examination, exploration, inquest, inquiry and inquisition. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Study" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Study"?

There are 156 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Study". Common alternatives include delving, disquisition, examen, examination, exploration, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, investigation and probation.

What is the opposite of "Study"?

Antonyms of "Study" include unlearn. Near antonyms include disregard, neglect, short shrift and disremember.

How do you use "Study" in a sentence?

Examples of "Study" in a sentence: "conducted a study to determine the sleep needs of adolescents"; "found her staring at the fire in a deep study"; "the idea is under study by the city council".

Is "Study" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Study" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Study" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Study" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Study"?

"Study" is pronounced /ˈstə-dē/.