Research (noun) is careful, systematic study or investigation carried out in order to discover new facts or reach new conclusions. As a verb, to research means to carry out such a study — for example: Recent research shows that reading extensively is one of the best ways to build vocabulary.
What Does Research Mean?
Research entered English in the late 16th century from Middle French recerche, a derivative of recercher — meaning "to seek out carefully" or "to search thoroughly". The prefix re- suggests a thorough or repeated searching, and the Latin root circare (to go around, to explore) is also the ancestor of the modern word search.
In modern British English, research functions both as a noun and as a verb. As a noun it is uncountable in standard usage: you carry out research, not a research. As a verb it is regular and fully transitive: She researched the topic for three months. The stress in both forms falls on the second syllable: /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/.
The word is essential in academic, scientific, journalistic, and professional English. It differs from study (which can mean a single piece of work or personal learning) and from investigation (which tends to focus on uncovering specific facts about a particular incident). Research implies a sustained, methodical effort to advance knowledge more broadly.
Example Sentences
| Level | Sentence | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | I did some research online before buying my new phone. | informal everyday use; do research collocation |
| B1 | The students carried out research into local wildlife for their science project. | carry out research; semi-formal academic context |
| B1 | She spent the weekend researching the history of the castle. | research as a regular verb; past continuous |
| B2 | Recent research shows that reading extensively is one of the best ways to build vocabulary. | research as uncountable subject; research + shows pattern |
| C1 | The team published their findings in a peer-reviewed journal after conducting three years of independent research into the long-term effects of sleep deprivation. | academic register; conduct research; research findings; peer-reviewed collocation |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| carry out research | The university is carrying out research into renewable energy. |
| conduct research | Scientists conducted research over a period of five years. |
| do research | I always do research before writing an essay. |
| publish research | They published their research in a leading journal. |
| research findings | The research findings were presented at the conference. |
| research paper | Her research paper on language acquisition won first prize. |
| cutting-edge research | The institute is known for cutting-edge research in AI. |
| independent research | Students are encouraged to undertake independent research. |
| research methods | Good research methods are essential for reliable results. |
| peer-reviewed research | Always cite peer-reviewed research in academic work. |
Usage Notes
Noun vs Verb
Research as a noun is uncountable in standard British English. Use it without an article or with quantifiers such as some, a great deal of, further, or new: further research is needed. If you need to refer to a single, bounded piece of work, use a study, a research project, or a piece of research.
As a verb, research is fully standard in British English: She researched the company before the interview. Some older style guides prefer carry out research into, but the verb form is widely accepted in modern usage at all registers.
Stress and Pronunciation
In British English, the stress is on the second syllable for both noun and verb: /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/. In American English, the noun is sometimes stressed on the first syllable: /ˈriːsɜːrtʃ/. For ESL learners targeting British English (IELTS, Cambridge exams), always stress the second syllable.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I did a research on climate change for my essay.
I did some research on climate change for my essay. (research is uncountable — no article)
The researchers made a research into sleep patterns.
The researchers carried out research into sleep patterns. (use carry out / conduct / do — not make)
Many researches have shown that exercise improves mood.
Much research has shown that exercise improves mood. (research has no plural form in standard English)