Search
/sɜːrtʃ/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo look for something or someone carefully and systematically.
/sɜːrtʃ/
To look for something or someone carefully or thoroughly.
We searched the entire house for the lost cat.
💡 Simply: Like when you lose your keys and you have to look everywhere to find them! Searching means you're looking for something.
👶 For kids: Looking for something! Like when you look for your toys.
More Examples
She is searching for a new job.
I will search online for the recipe.
How It's Used
"The police are searching for the missing child."
"I searched the internet for information."
The act of looking for someone or something.
/sɜːrtʃ/
The act of looking for something.
The search for the missing plane lasted several days.
💡 Simply: The activity of looking for something. Like, the search for the perfect ice cream flavor.
👶 For kids: When you are looking for something.
More Examples
Their house was subject to a police search.
The online search provided many results.
How It's Used
"The search for survivors continues."
"The search results came up quickly."
Synonyms
Explore
Investigate
Examination
Exploration
Inquiry
Investigation
Quest
Idioms & expressions
In search of
Looking for something, usually an abstract concept or experience.
"She went to Europe in search of adventure."
Search high and low
To look everywhere.
"We searched high and low for the missing keys, but couldn't find them."
From Old French 'cerchier,' meaning 'to seek,' which comes from Late Latin 'circare,' meaning 'to go about, wander,' related to Latin 'circus' (circle).
The word 'search' has been used since the 13th century in English, evolving from the Old French 'cerchier'. Initially used in a general sense of 'to seek', it has since developed a more specific meaning of a careful, systematic inquiry.
Memory tip
Imagine a detective carefully looking for clues. The search is the detective's action.