Definition of study verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

study

verb

/ˈstʌdi/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they study	/ˈstʌdi/ /ˈstʌdi/
he / she / it studies	/ˈstʌdiz/ /ˈstʌdiz/
past simple studied	/ˈstʌdid/ /ˈstʌdid/
past participle studied	/ˈstʌdid/ /ˈstʌdid/
-ing form studying	/ˈstʌdiɪŋ/ /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/

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learn

[transitive, intransitive] to spend time learning about a subject by reading, going to college, etc.

He sat up very late that night, studying.
study something How long have you been studying English?
study for something Don't disturb Jane, she's studying for her exams.
study something at… My brother studied photography at the Royal College of Art.
study at… She studied at New College, Oxford.
study something under somebody a composer who studied music under Nadia Boulanger (= was taught music by Nadia Boulanger)
study under somebody He studied under Wagner in Vienna.
study to do/be something Nina is studying to be an architect.
He is studying to teach children with special needs.

Collocations EducationEducationLearning

acquire/get/lack (an) education/training/(British English) (some) qualifications
receive/provide somebody with training/tuition
develop/design/plan a curriculum/(especially British English) course/(North American English) program/syllabus
give/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminar
hold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshop
sign up for/take a course/classes/lessons

School

go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
be in (North American English) the first, second, etc. grade/(British English) year 1, 2. etc. (at school)
study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.
(British English) leave/finish/drop out of/ (North American English) quit school
(North American English) graduate high school/college

Problems at school

be the victim/target of bullying
(British English) play truant from/ (both British English, informal) bunk off/skive off school (= not go to school when you should)
(both especially North American English) skip/cut class/school
(British English) cheat in/(North American English) cheat on an exam/a test
get/be given a detention (for doing something)
be expelled from/be suspended from school

Work and exams

do your homework/(British English) revision/a project on something
work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/(North American English) a paper
finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies/coursework
hand in/ (North American English) turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper
study/prepare/ (British English) revise/ (North American English) review/ (North American English, informal) cram for a test/an exam
take/ (both British English) do/sit a test/an exam
(especially British English) mark/ (especially North American English) grade homework/a test
(British English) do well in/ (North American English) do well on/ (especially North American English, informal) ace a test/an exam
pass/fail/ (especially North American English, informal) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subject

University

apply to/get into/go to/start college/(British English) university
leave/graduate from law school/college/(British English) university (with a degree in computer science)
study for/take/ (British English) do/complete a law degree/a degree in physics
(both North American English) major/minor in biology/philosophy
earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master’s degree/a bachelor’s degree/a PhD in economics

Extra Examples

I have two tests tomorrow, and I've barely had time to study.
She's studying hard at the moment.
There's nowhere for the students to study quietly.
In the third year a number of areas are studied in detail.
Did you ever study any sciences?
I had a place to study engineering at Leeds.
They are always on social media when they should be studying.
She has been studying and working in Holland for the past four years.
The faculty offers students the opportunity to study dance.
He began studying for a law degree.

Topics Educationa1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

hard
abroad

preposition

at
for
under
…

See full entry

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examine carefully

[transitive] to watch or to look at somebody/something carefully in order to find out something

study something for something Scientists are studying photographs of the planet for signs of life.
study something He studied her face thoughtfully.
Fran was studying the menu.
She picked up the letter and studied it carefully.

Topics Scientific researchb1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

carefully
closely
in depth
…

phrases

be well studied

See full entry

[transitive] to examine something carefully in order to understand it

study something We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
study how, what, etc… The group will study how the region coped with the loss of thousands of jobs.
They are studying what happens to people who unexpectedly win a lot of money.

Synonyms examineexamineanalyse ▪ review ▪ study ▪ discussThese words all mean to think about, study or describe somebody/something carefully, especially in order to understand them, form an opinion of them or make a decision about them.examine to think about, study or describe an idea, subject or piece of work very carefully:

These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.

analyse/analyze to examine the nature or structure of something, especially by separating it into its parts, in order to understand or explain it:

The job involves gathering and analysing data.
He tried to analyse his feelings.

review to examine something again, especially so that you can decide if it is necessary to make changes:

The government will review the situation later in the year.

study to examine somebody/something in order to understand them or it:

We will study the report carefully before making a decision.

examine or study?You examine something in order to understand it or to help other people understand it, for example by describing it in a book; you study something in order to understand it yourself.discuss to write or talk about something in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it:

This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter.

Patterns

to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss what/how/whether…
to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss the situation/evidence
to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss something carefully/critically/systematically/briefly

Extra Examples