systematic investigation to establish facts
"The team spent months conducting research to verify the historical claims before publishing their findings."
Diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise facts, principles, theories, applications, etc.; laborious or continued search after truth.
"The team spent months conducting research into the ancient manuscripts before finally uncovering the lost theory of navigation."
In plain English: Research is the act of looking up information to find answers to questions.
"The success of her project depended entirely on the quality of her research."
Usage: Use research only when referring to systematic investigation involving data collection and analysis; avoid using it for casual searching or simple fact-checking. It is almost exclusively uncountable in American English, so do not pair it with the indefinite article "a" unless you are specifically modifying a type of research project.
attempt to find out in a systematically and scientific manner
"The student researched the history of that word"
To search or examine with continued care; to seek diligently.
"She spent weeks researching old city archives before finally uncovering the lost family recipe."
In plain English: To research means to look up information and study something carefully to find answers.
"She spent all afternoon researching the best restaurants in the city."
The word research comes from the Early Modern French phrase rechercher, which originally meant "to examine closely." It entered English through a direct translation of this earlier Old French term meaning "to seek" or "look for."