Explored

Explored is the past tense and past participle of the verb explore. It denotes the act of traveling through or examining a place, object, or idea in order to learn more about it. An area, subject, or data set described as explored has been investigated rather than left unexamined.

The word derives from Latin explorare, meaning to search out or examine, formed from ex- “out” and plorare, with sense development toward meticulous investigation. It entered English via Old French in the early modern period.

In geography, archaeology, science, and related fields, explored areas have been surveyed, mapped, or studied in depth. In everyday usage, explored can describe a completed phase of investigation: “The team explored the cave” or “The region is largely explored.” In data analysis, “explored” is used when initial examination has been performed, as in exploratory data analysis, though “exploration” is often preferred as a noun.

The term contrasts with “unexplored” for areas not yet surveyed, and with “explorative” or “exploratory” when emphasizing the process or potential for discovery rather than the completion of study.

See also: explore, exploration, explorer.