search
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
-
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
-
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 byout ).
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.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
-
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?
- 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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
informal I don't know
noun
-
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
-
-
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
-
presearchnoun
-
searchablenessnoun
-
searchernoun
-
undersearchnoun
-
outsearchverb (used with object)
-
searchableadjective
-
unsearchedadjective
-
well-searchedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
searchsimple
-
searchessimple
-
have searchedperfect
-
has searchedperfect
-
am searchingprogressive
-
are searchingprogressive
-
is searchingprogressive
-
have been searchingperfect progressive
-
has been searchingperfect progressive
Past
-
searchedsimple
-
had searchedperfect
-
was searchingprogressive
-
were searchingprogressive
-
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
Beowulf vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Easter Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Return to Titanic" and "Talking with Robert Ballard"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Fraudsters can be in search of higher pay from padded credentials or may have more sophisticated schemes in mind, like gaining access to company data.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Last year, they disgorged travelers in the thousands to search for maritime baubles and seafood before returning to the ship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Bristow Helicopters, which operates the search and rescue base at MOD St Athan, said it had no record of him working for them.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
A search party organized by Goforth’s family members and friends went out Tuesday, using bikes, all-terrain vehicles and even a few planes, her daughter said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
“But Jonathan and Abby may have found a way to stay afloat. Jonathan’s very resourceful. We need to send search planes, to look for them.”
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
Authorities and volunteers have conducted multiple searches for Julie Goforth, 63, who was last seen early Friday riding her dirt bike in the sprawling El Mirage Dry Lake Off Highway Recreation Area near Adelanto.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Authorities will continue to enforce its immigration laws, she added, but warned that protesters should not conduct unauthorised searches of homes and businesses that are suspected of sheltering undocumented migrants.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
“People who use AI and market themselves as using AI in their job searches are more likely to get job offers.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
Constitutional safeguards normally require a court order prior to searches or seizures, and seizing a child from their parent is one of the most extreme steps the government can take.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
She gets a lifetime of being stopped by the FAA for random bag searches every time she flies.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
Later that day, they said, guards searched each cell one by one, seizing almost all personal items.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies have searched for Goforth on horseback and in off-road vehicles, using search-and-rescue dogs, drones and a helicopter, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
As part of the investigation, residential properties and a number of vehicles were searched, and more than 35 digital devices were recovered.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
For decades, astronomers have searched for the universe's earliest quasars because they preserve valuable information about how the first galaxies and supermassive black holes came into existence.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
They searched high and low, but no one in Sassafras Springs ever saw hide nor hair of Holt again.”
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
But the day she arrives, a girl goes missing and Hanna cannot resist becoming part of the team searching for her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
It is understood that the family had been searching for the couple since Thursday.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The proposals are symptoms of an aging population searching for someone else to pay bills that are increasingly difficult to cover.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Because these cancers are often discovered after they have already advanced, scientists continue searching for dietary and lifestyle factors that might influence risk.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
My first stop, though, was to drop by Jeb’s place to see if he wanted to go searching for Wonders again.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
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.
