study

/ˈstʌd.i/

//ˈstʌd.i// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"study" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“study” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #554 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#554
frequency rank, English
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To review materials already learned in order to make sure one does not forget them, usually in preparation for an examination.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

study vs sud
60% similar
study vs stun
60% similar
study vs SUNY
0% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for study
PropertyValue
Headwordstudy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈstʌd.i/
Letters5
Frequency rank#554
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “study” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). study lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for study is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈstʌd.i/. Corpus data places it at rank #554 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for study, with forms such as "sstudy", "stduy", and "sttudy". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "sud", "stun", "SUNY", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English studien, from Old French estudier (Modern French étudier), from estudie (noun), borrowed from Latin studium. Displaced Old English cneordlæcan. The correct English form is study, spelled S-T-U-D-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    To review materials already learned in order to make sure one does not forget them, usually in preparation for an examination.
  2. 2
    To take a course or courses on a subject.
  3. 3
    To acquire knowledge on a subject with the intention of applying it in practice.
  4. 4
    To look at carefully and minutely.
  5. 5
    To fix the mind closely upon a subject; to dwell upon anything in thought; to muse; to ponder.
  6. 6
    To endeavor diligently; to be zealous.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English studien, from Old French estudier (Modern French étudier), from estudie (noun), borrowed from Latin studium. Displaced Old English cneordlæcan.

Synonyms

conelucubrateresearchrevisesot

This word in other languages

estudiar(Español)étudier(Français)lernen(Deutsch)estudar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: sstudy,stduy,sttudy,studdy,studyy,stuyd,sutdy,tsudy

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of study - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

sstudy1stduy2sttudy1studdy1studyy1stuyd2sutdy2tsudy2
Edit distance from "study"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "study"?
"study" is spelled S-T-U-D-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈstʌd.i/.
What does "study" mean?
As a verb, "study" means: To review materials already learned in order to make sure one does not forget them, usually in preparation for an examination.
What words are commonly confused with "study"?
"study" is commonly confused with "sud", "stun", "SUNY". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "study"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "study" is /ˈstʌd.i/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "study"?
Inherited from Middle English studien, from Old French estudier (Modern French étudier), from estudie (noun), borrowed from Latin studium. Displaced Old English cneordlæcan. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “study”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-T-U-D-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈstʌd.i/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “sud” - see the side-by-side comparison. study vs sud
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list