search
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.
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.
to explore or examine in order to discover: They searched the hills for gold.
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.
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.
to look into, question, or scrutinize: She searched her conscience.
(of natural elements) to pierce or penetrate: The sunlight searched the room's dark corners.
to uncover or find by examination or exploration (often followed by out): to search out all the facts.
Military. to fire artillery over (an area) with successive changes in gun elevation.
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.
to inquire, investigate, examine, or seek; conduct an examination or investigation.
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.
an instance of this: Did the search turn up any clues?
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.
Digital Technology. the act or process of electronically retrieving data, web pages, database records, or other information from files, databases, etc., as in Boolean search; keyword search:A search of the article turned up two references to my company.
Idioms about search
search me, I don't know: Why has it taken so long to reach a decision? Search me.
Origin of search
1Other words for search
Other words from search
- search·a·ble, adjective
- search·a·ble·ness, noun
- searcher, noun
- outsearch, verb (used with object)
- pre·search, noun, verb (used with object)
- un·der·search, noun
- un·searched, adjective
- well-searched, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use search in a sentence
Turns out, many people in search of solitude have been clambering into their closets throughout the pandemic.
Pages with more links to and from other pages will rank higher in the list of possible solutions that emerge from the search request.
He begins the scanning search for which cognition was engineered.
Are We Wired to Be Outside? - Issue 92: Frontiers | Grigori Guitchounts | November 11, 2020 | NautilusClearfind also generates revenue through referral fees that come from search within Clearfind.
Bootstrapped Clearfind wants to cut your software spend, for a small fee | Jordan Crook | November 11, 2020 | TechCrunchBy May, there had been a 60 percent increase in searches for “gap year,” according to Google Trends.
A policewoman was shot dead this morning while law enforcement searched for the Charlie Lebdo killers.
Morris searched for whatever strength was left in his malnourished body.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the video, the bus is getting searched by a cop with a German shepherd.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish | M.L. Nestel | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“We searched all the impound lots in the city, and there they were,” Alvarado said.
Erwin Blumenfeld is one of the most searched and most shared artists on line.
Vogue Photographer Erwin Blumenfeld: Secrets of a Fashion Legend | Tim Teeman | September 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe hath searched out the deep, and the heart of men: and considered their crafty devices.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThey had searched Mortlake House for Alice, and that vain quest had not wasted more than half-an-hour.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuOf course you did not hear anything about her when you searched up and down the boulevard the other day?
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn | Margaret PenroseWe searched afterwards three days in hopes to find their houses, but found none; yet we saw many places where they had made fires.
Dorothy searched for the hidden treasure in desperate haste, and placed the letter on the table before him.
The World Before Them | Susanna Moodie
British Dictionary definitions for search
/ (sɜːtʃ) /
to look through (a place, records, etc) thoroughly in order to find someone or something
(tr) to examine (a person) for concealed objects by running one's hands over the clothing
to look at or examine (something) closely: to search one's conscience
(tr foll by out) to discover by investigation
surgery
to explore (a bodily cavity) during a surgical procedure
to probe (a wound)
(tr) military to fire all over (an area)
computing to review (a file) to locate specific information
archaic to penetrate
search me informal I don't know
the act or an instance of searching
the examination of a vessel by the right of search
computing
a review of a file to locate specific information
(as modifier): a search routine
right of search 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
Origin of search
1Derived forms of search
- searchable, adjective
- searcher, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with search
In addition to the idiom beginning with search
- search me
also see:
- high and low, search
- in search of
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse