exploration

noun

ex·​plo·​ra·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce exploration (audio)
-ˌsplȯ-
: the act or an instance of exploring
explorational adjective

Examples of exploration in a Sentence

a topic for scholarly exploration the early exploration of the West early explorations of the West
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dig deeper past Kelley's clear-headedness and desire for sonic exploration and another, more broadly relatable value to his new music emerges. Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025 The demo essentially consisted of three core elements: combat against basic enemies, some light puzzle solving and exploration, and then a big boss fight. David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 The documentary is designed, then for that filmmaking empathy to translate into a sympathetic curiosity from the audience, which allows Questlove and Patel to do a little bit more inside baseball exploration of exactly what Sly Stone’s genius looked like and has meant to other artists. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025 After a briefing and gear setup, the first one-hour dive follows the main guideline, with optional deeper exploration afterward — some dives can reach nearly 200 feet (60 meters) and require decompression stops. Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exploration

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exploration was in 1537

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exploration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exploration. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

exploration

noun
ex·​plo·​ra·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce exploration (audio)
: the act or an instance of exploring

More from Merriam-Webster on exploration

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!