Explore
/ɪkˈsplɔːr/
verbB1
Definition
Explore means to go to new places or look closely at something to understand it better. It can be used for physical travel, like visiting a new city, or for learning about ideas, feelings, or information.
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See It in Action
To travel around a place to learn about it
- •We explored the old castle to see its hidden rooms.
- •The children explored the park looking for birds.
- •Scientists explore the ocean to find new animals.
To examine or think about an idea or feeling carefully
- •The teacher asked us to explore different opinions about the story.
- •She explored her feelings by writing in a journal.
- •The company wants to explore new ways to improve their product.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "explore" like "look" or "go," but with the goal to find or learn something new, not just see or move
- ✓Picture someone walking through a forest, looking at plants and animals carefully to discover what is there
- ✓It's the feeling of curiosity and excitement when you want to know more about something unknown
- ✓Sounds like "ex-PLOR" → imagine opening a door to a new room full of surprises to discover
- ✓Think of explorers like astronauts or travelers who go to places no one knows well yet
- ✓NOT like "visit" (just going somewhere), "explore" means searching and learning actively
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (not paying attention), "explore" means paying close attention and investigating
- ✓NOT like "study" (more formal and often indoors), "explore" can be more active and outside
Try Other Words
- •Investigate: to look carefully to find information (Use when you want to find facts or details, often in science or police work)
- •Discover: to find something new for the first time (Use when you find something unknown or hidden)
- •Examine: to look at something carefully and closely (Use when focusing on details or parts of something)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "ex-" means "out" or "thoroughly"
- •Root "plore" comes from Latin "plorare," meaning "to cry out" or "to call out," but in this word it evolved to mean searching or investigating
- •The word "explore" entered English in the late 1400s, originally meaning to investigate or search carefully
- •Today, it is used both for physical travel and for searching ideas or information
Reflect & Connect
•What are some places or ideas you would like to explore in your life and why?
•How does exploring new things help you learn and grow as a person?
Fill in the blanks
1.When you explore a new city, you usually ___ many different neighborhoods and ___ local food.
2.She decided to explore her feelings by ___ about them in her diary.
3.Unlike just visiting a place, to explore means to ___ and ___ new things carefully.
4.Scientists explore the environment to ___ new species and ___ how they live.
5.We often explore problems by asking many questions and ___ different solutions.
6.When children explore, they show ___ and want to ___ the world around them.
7.Exploring ideas means thinking about them in different ways, not just ___ them quickly.