- a variation of sere.
sear
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to burn or char the surface of.
She seared the steak to seal in the juices.
-
to mark with a branding iron.
-
to burn or scorch injuriously or painfully.
He seared his hand on a hot steam pipe.
-
to harden or scar emotionally.
The traumatic experiences of her youth have permanently seared her.
-
to dry up or wither; parch.
verb (used without object)
noun
adjective
noun
verb
-
to scorch or burn the surface of
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to brand with a hot iron
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to cause to wither or dry up
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rare to make callous or unfeeling
noun
adjective
noun
Synonym Usage
See burn 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
searsimple
-
searssimple
-
have searedperfect
-
has searedperfect
-
am searingprogressive
-
are searingprogressive
-
is searingprogressive
-
have been searingperfect progressive
-
has been searingperfect progressive
Past
-
searedsimple
-
had searedperfect
-
was searingprogressive
-
were searingprogressive
-
had been searingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sear1
First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective ser(e), Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; the verb is derivative of the adjective
Origin of sear2
First recorded in 1550–60; from Middle French serre “a grip,” derivative of serrer “to lock up, close,” ultimately from Late Latin serāre “to bar (a door)”
Explanation
To sear something is to quickly cook or burn its surface by applying intense heat. When making beef stew, the color and flavor are usually better if you sear the meat first. Sear comes from the Old English word searian which meant “dry up” or “wither.” Typically, the verb sear now refers to burning or scorching something with heat, but if you see the phrase “wind-seared,” it means that a place — or something left in that place — has been withered by exposure to the elements. An unpleasant image can be seared into your memory, meaning you can't forget it.
Vocabulary lists containing sear
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Refugee
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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:
Manufacturers slap the word “grill” on the packaging of all types of cookers, alongside images of steaks with sear marks, even if they don’t actually involve searing over a live fire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
A private chef will roast asparagus and sear rib-eyes for dinner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
It takes well to a hard sear, which means texture.
From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2026
You can easily customize with a flat top or sear sidekick, or splurging on a pizza oven, all of which easily connect to the smoker and level up the experience.
From Salon ● Nov. 20, 2025
Then I draw a line in the dirt a few feet from the force field as a reminder to keep back, and Peeta and I settle down to roast nuts and sear cubes of rat.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Officers purchased multiple auto sears throughout the course of the investigation, according to police.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 29, 2023
“The sears make the weapon very difficult to aim. Consequently, these rounds spray all over the place and are indiscriminate and it’s very, very dangerous for our community,” Barden said.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 2023
Wildfires devouring swaths of Algeria’s Mediterranean coast have killed 34 people over two days, the Algerian authorities said on Tuesday, as an extreme heat wave sears North Africa, Southern Europe and the sea between them.
From New York Times ● Jul. 25, 2023
Love that sears and scars, like the pitiless expanses of the Sahara.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2023
Its fleshy red shape sears through my mind.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
The UN chief's warning came as Europe's latest heatwave brought record temperatures in France and seared other European countries this week.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
They have a black cod sushi, and the black cod is slightly seared.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Stir in the remaining can of fire-roasted tomatoes, the chili beans and the seared steak along with any juices collected on the plate.
From Salon ● May 19, 2026
Charles is seared into the public’s mind by the fact that he is a constant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
But they had never been able to conquer their fear of the individual way in which I acted and lived, an individuality which life had seared into my blood and bones.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
A wildfire burning near the Los Angeles-San Bernardino county line grew to more than 2,600 acres Saturday, spurring evacuation orders in Llano amid searing heat and approaching monsoonal weather conditions across Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Much of the U.S. is already baking under searing heat — even though El Niño is not yet in full force.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
But after Wales lost possession, star wing Jiuta Wainiqolo surged away with a second searing break in a few minutes to allow Fiji to force a final onslaught on the Welsh line.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
But the searing temperatures have done little to deter President Donald Trump, who has gone to great lengths to ensure the event becomes, in large part, a celebration of himself.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
Then it dawned on me what he was saying, and my throat felt searing hot again.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
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.
