explored; exploring
1
a
: to investigate, study, or analyze : look into
explore the relationship between social class and learning ability
—sometimes used with indirect questionsto explore where ethical issues arise—
R. T. Blackburn
R. T. Blackburn
b
: to become familiar with by testing or experimenting
explore new cuisines
2
: to travel over (new territory) for adventure or discovery
3
: to examine especially for diagnostic purposes
explore the wound
: to make or conduct a systematic search
explore for oil
Synonyms
Examples of explore in a Sentence
Researchers are exploring how language is acquired by children.
The book explores a number of controversial issues.
You need to explore your feelings on this subject more carefully.
an opportunity to explore different activities
The children were encouraged to explore mathematics.
I decided to go out and explore the town.
They were sent to explore unknown regions of Africa.
Recent Examples on the Web
Department of Data We here at the Department of Data are dedicated to exploring the weird and wondrous power of the data that defines our world.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Advertisement This article is part of The Times’ equity reporting initiative, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address California’s economic divide.
—Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In an illuminating conversation with Billboard, Ryan Trey sounds off on the utility of deluxe editions, the rise of fans leaking artists’ unfinished music, exploring his faith and how Justin Bieber’s Journals album is influencing his new music.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
In the decades following World War II, Japanese filmmakers built their own body of work exploring the attacks and their aftermath.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Lounge on the sandy shores of Oval Beach or Saugatuck Dunes State Park, rent a boat and explore Lake Michigan, browse the art galleries, or check out the local breweries.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
Maricopa County wants to explore it Fundraising for US Rep. Ruben Gallego skyrockets with Kyrsten Sinema out of Senate race Arizona lawmakers could move to a once-a-week work schedule.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
That question of contemporary usage and semantics is one of about a hundred things that will come to be debated over the course of an hour-and-a-half comedy that finds its laughs largely in exploring racial and/or generational differences.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Mar. 2024
Ensuring safety and security is crucial in the vast emptiness of space, where satellites orbit and expeditions to explore the unknown take place.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Advertisement This article is part of The Times’ equity reporting initiative, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address California’s economic divide.
—Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In an illuminating conversation with Billboard, Ryan Trey sounds off on the utility of deluxe editions, the rise of fans leaking artists’ unfinished music, exploring his faith and how Justin Bieber’s Journals album is influencing his new music.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
In the decades following World War II, Japanese filmmakers built their own body of work exploring the attacks and their aftermath.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Lounge on the sandy shores of Oval Beach or Saugatuck Dunes State Park, rent a boat and explore Lake Michigan, browse the art galleries, or check out the local breweries.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
Maricopa County wants to explore it Fundraising for US Rep. Ruben Gallego skyrockets with Kyrsten Sinema out of Senate race Arizona lawmakers could move to a once-a-week work schedule.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
That question of contemporary usage and semantics is one of about a hundred things that will come to be debated over the course of an hour-and-a-half comedy that finds its laughs largely in exploring racial and/or generational differences.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Mar. 2024
Ensuring safety and security is crucial in the vast emptiness of space, where satellites orbit and expeditions to explore the unknown take place.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'explore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near explore
Cite this Entry
“Explore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explore. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
explore
verb
ex·plore
ik-ˈsplō(ə)r 
-ˈsplȯ(ə)r
explored; exploring
1
a
: to search through : look into
exploring new ideas
b
: to go into or travel over for purposes of discovery or adventure
explore a cave
explore the moon
c
: to examine carefully and in detail especially in order to make a diagnosis
explore a wound
2
: to make a careful search
explore for oil
Medical Definition
explore
transitive verb
ex·plore
ik-ˈsplō(ə)r, -ˈsplȯ(ə)r
explored; exploring
: to examine (as by surgery) especially for diagnostic purposes
the abdomen may need to be explored surgically—Donald Caslow
Donald CaslowLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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