search
Americanverb (used with object)
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searches,
present (3rd person singular)
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searched,
past participle, past
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searching
present participle
-
to go or look through (a place, area, etc.) carefully in order to find something missing or lost.
They searched the woods for the missing child. I searched the desk for the letter.
- Synonyms:
- investigate
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to look at or examine (a person, object, etc.) carefully in order to find something concealed.
He searched the vase for signs of a crack. The police searched the suspect for weapons.
- Synonyms:
- inspect
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to explore or examine in order to discover.
They searched the hills for gold.
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to look at, read, or examine (a record, writing, collection, repository, etc.) for information.
to search a property title; He searched the courthouse for a record of the deed to the land.
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to look at or beneath the superficial aspects of to discover a motive, reaction, feeling, basic truth, etc..
He searched her face for a clue to her true feelings.
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to look into, question, or scrutinize.
She searched her conscience.
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(of natural elements) to pierce or penetrate.
The sunlight searched the room's dark corners.
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to uncover or find by examination or exploration (often followed byout ).
to search out all the facts.
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Military. to fire artillery over (an area) with successive changes in gun elevation.
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Digital Technology. to electronically retrieve data, web pages, database records, or other information from (files, databases, etc.) by typing relevant terms into a search engine or other search tool.
Most of us have searched the internet for medical advice.
verb (used without object)
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searches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
searched,
past participle, past
-
searching
present participle
noun
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searches
plural
-
-
the act of searching; careful examination or investigation.
Her date with the guy she met online went badly, so her search for “Mr. Right” continues.
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an instance of this.
Did the search turn up any clues?
- Synonyms:
- scrutiny, inspection
-
-
the practice, on the part of naval officers of a belligerent nation, of boarding and examining a suspected neutral vessel at sea in order to ascertain its true nationality and determine if it is carrying contraband.
the right of visit and search.
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Digital Technology. the act or process of electronically retrieving data, web pages, database records, or other information from files, databases, etc., as in
A search of the article turned up two references to my company.
idioms
verb
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to look through (a place, records, etc) thoroughly in order to find someone or something
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(tr) to examine (a person) for concealed objects by running one's hands over the clothing
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to look at or examine (something) closely
to search one's conscience
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to discover by investigation
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surgery
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to explore (a bodily cavity) during a surgical procedure
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to probe (a wound)
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(tr) military to fire all over (an area)
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computing to review (a file) to locate specific information
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archaic to penetrate
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informal I don't know
noun
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the act or an instance of searching
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the examination of a vessel by the right of search
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computing
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a review of a file to locate specific information
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( as modifier )
a search routine
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international law the right possessed by the warships of a belligerent state in time of war to board and search merchant vessels to ascertain whether ship or cargo is liable to seizure
Usage
What is a basic definition of search? Search means to look to find something that is missing or whose location has been forgotten or is unknown. It also means to carefully examine a person or thing to find something that is hidden. A more modern meaning of search is to enter a query on a search engine or website in order to find a specific page or piece of information. Search is also used as a noun to refer to the process of looking for something. Search has many other senses as both a verb and a noun. Most generally, search means to look for something. It usually implies something more thorough than just looking. Real-life examples: People search for buried treasure, missing children, and things that they have lost, among many other things. Sometimes, people are said to search for abstract things, such as meaning or happiness. Used in a sentence: We searched everywhere in the house for my sister’s missing toy. Search also means to look closely at or examine a person or thing to find something that may be concealed or hidden. Real-life examples: Police and security guards search people to check for weapons or illegal items they may be hiding on themselves or in something they own. Collectors or appraisers will often search an item for damage or signs that something may be fake. Used in a sentence: The art expert searched the statue to find the sculptor’s trademark signature that proved it was genuine. Search is also commonly used in the context of searching the internet, a website, or an individual webpage. Real-life examples: When you use a search engine, you enter a search term in order to view the search results to find what you’re looking for. This process is called a search. Used in a sentence: I searched for the exact phrase, but there were no results, so I tried another search using only keywords. As a noun, search also commonly refers to the process of trying to find something. An investigation is a kind of search for the truth. Real-life examples: Police often conduct searches to find missing people or suspects. People participate in or start searches focused on finding many different things, such as romantic partners, colleges, missing wallets, or answers to questions. Used in a sentence: I haven’t made much progress in my search for the perfect birthday present for my girlfriend.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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presearchnoun
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searchablenessnoun
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searchernoun
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undersearchnoun
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outsearchverb (used with object)
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searchableadjective
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unsearchedadjective
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well-searchedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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searchsimple
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searchessimple
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have searchedperfect
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has searchedperfect
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am searchingprogressive
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are searchingprogressive
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is searchingprogressive
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have been searchingperfect progressive
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has been searchingperfect progressive
Past
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searchedsimple
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had searchedperfect
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was searchingprogressive
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were searchingprogressive
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had been searchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of search
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb serchen, cerchen, from Anglo-French sercher or directly from Old French cerchier, from Late Latin circāre “to go around,” derivative of Latin circus “circle”; noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
To search is to look for something. A search party is a group of people looking for something together. Their search may take a long time. If they're in the army, they might be on a mission to search and destroy. Search is one of the many words in English that have taken on a new meaning related to computers. To search the Web, or perform a search is to use a computer to find information on the Internet. The verb search is from Late Latin circare "to travel through," from Latin circus "circle." The original meanings of this verb in English were to dig for something, then, to overrun or occupy by force.
Vocabulary lists containing search
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A Section 60 order is now in force across eight Brent wards, giving police enhanced stop and search powers.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Ben & Jerry’s is poised to name three new independent directors to anchor the restructuring of its board, following a long search for suitable candidates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Xi said that "the most urgent task is doing everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people... quickly treat injured people and minimise casualties to the greatest extent possible", according to CCTV.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
But for a single search, the A.I. performs “decently,” Mackey said.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
I shake my head and start a new search.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Ladd testified that although he got an MGM Mike Tyson fight ticket from Suge Knight’s home, he found no proof in all his searches that Davis was in Las Vegas during the shooting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Although the current analysis centers on just one galaxy, the finding could lead to searches for similar stellar streams around many different types of galaxies.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
My colleague Joe Barrett reported on a jury-duty scam where attackers spied on the victim’s texts, web searches and location.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Haber told the BBC he has seen some buyers pause searches for expensive properties in New York because of the new tax.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
By the front doors are metal detectors manned by large grumpy people who perform random bag searches.
From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick
He said Compton detectives searched 38 homes and apartments in Compton, Long Beach, Lynwood, Downey, Paramount and Lakewood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
The researchers next searched for the molecular process responsible for making APOE4 neurons smaller and more excitable.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
Eager for insights similar to those she had found in the lifeguarding manual, Ms. Eubanks searched for courses on rescue and survival, around Troy and farther afield.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Crews searched the river alongside the Metropolitan Police, and the boy's body was recovered by police divers hours later, at about 00:15 BST on Sunday.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
When it stopped, he searched under the table for casters or wires; he found none.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
It’s drawn from Ionesco’s “Fragments of a Journal,” and effectively establishes the sad and searching state of mind that torments Berenger, but also his centrality to Ionesco’s tragicomedy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
That Girl Mom said she would have been drawn to anyone in that moment who was searching for the truth.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
He also cast doubt on the long-term future of three VW plants and an Audi factory, all in Germany, while stressing the company was searching for ways to keep them open into the 2030s.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
These cells travel throughout the body searching for infection and disease.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
He returned his gaze to the teacher's face, searching it for information.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
