Search — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈsərch/

Meaning & Definition of Search

Search (verb)

  1. to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
  2. to examine in seeking something
  3. to look through or explore by inspecting possible places of concealment or investigating suspicious circumstances

Search (noun)

  1. an act of searching
  2. an act of boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas in exercise of right of search
  3. a party that searches

Search (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act or process of looking carefully or thoroughly for someone or something

    "the search for the missing hikers lasted several days"

    similar: hunt, quest
    related: shakedown, sweep, chase, pursuit, recon, reconnaissance, scout, canvass, survey, exploration, probe, forage

Search (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something

    "archaeologists have begun to search the southern end of the valley, where they believe the underground tombs are located"

    similar: comb, dig (through), dredge, hunt (through), rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour, sort (through), troll
    related: frisk, pat down, shake down, audit, check (out), examine, inspect, investigate, review, scan, scrutinize, survey, ascertain, descry, detect, determine, discover, ferret (out), find, find out, get, hit (on or upon), learn, locate, run down, scare up, track (down), grub (about), poke (around), explore, probe, prospect, skirmish, snoop, browse, glance (over), look over, peruse, study
    near: hide, abandon, lose, ignore, neglect

  2. to go into or range over for purposes of discovery

    "the Spanish conquistadors searched vast areas of the Southwest in their quest for the fabled cities of gold"

    similar: explore, hunt, probe, prospect, skirr
    related: reconnoiter, scout, disclose, discover, reveal, unearth, fathom, plumb, sound

Related Entry: Search (for or out) (verb)

Search (for or out) is a different word from Search. The synonyms below are for search (for or out), not for search.

  1. to go in search of

    "every year major league scouts crisscross the country to search for young players with promising talent"

    similar: cast about (for), cast around (for), chase (down), forage (for), hunt, look up, pursue, quest, seek, shop (for), look for
    related: ferret (out), root (out)
    near: hide, lose, ignore, neglect

Related Entry: Search (for) (verb)

Search (for) is a different word from Search. The synonyms below are for search (for), not for search.

  1. as in seek, hunt

    similar: hunt, seek, accompany, chaperone, escort, eye, observe, watch, bird-dog, chase, course, dog, follow, hound, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail
    opposite: guide, lead, pilot, head

  2. as in see, find out

    similar: ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig up, discern, discover, examine, find out, hear, hit (on or upon), run down, scare up, see, track (down), tumble (to), unearth, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in), imbibe, major (in), study, apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, understand, memorize, get, learn, master, pick up
    opposite: unlearn, forget, misunderstand, miss, overlook, disregard, ignore, neglect

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Search

The most common words with a similar meaning to Search:

hunt, quest, comb, dig (through), dredge, hunt (through), rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour, sort (through), troll, explore, probe, prospect, skirr

Related Words for Search

shakedown, sweep, chase, pursuit, recon, reconnaissance, scout, canvass, survey, exploration, forage, frisk, pat down, shake down, audit, check (out), examine, inspect, investigate, review, scan, scrutinize, ascertain, descry, detect, determine, discover, ferret (out), find, find out

Near Antonyms of Search

hide, abandon, lose, ignore, neglect

Word Forms of Search

Inflections: searched, searching, searches

Derived words: searchability (noun), searchable (adjective), searcher (noun), searchingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Search

Middle English cerchen, from Anglo-French cercher, sercher to travel about, investigate, search, from Late Latin circare to go about, from Latin circum round about circum-

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Search

Words & Phrases Containing Search

search engine, search warrant, search and rescue team, search me, search out, search party, skin search, strip search

Frequently Asked Questions about Search

What does "Search" mean?

"Search" means to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Search"?

Other words for "Search" include hunt, quest, comb, dig (through), dredge, hunt (through), rake and ransack. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Search" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Search"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Search". Common alternatives include hunt, quest, comb, dig (through), dredge, hunt (through), rake, ransack, rifle and rummage.

How do you use "Search" in a sentence?

Examples of "Search" in a sentence: "the search for the missing hikers lasted several days"; "archaeologists have begun to search the southern end of the valley, where they believe the underground tombs are located"; "the Spanish conquistadors searched vast areas of the Southwest in their quest for the fabled cities of gold".

Is "Search" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Search" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Search" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Search" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Search"?

"Search" is pronounced /ˈsərch/.

What is the origin of the word "Search"?

"Search" comes from Middle English cerchen, from Anglo-French cercher, sercher to travel about, investigate, search, from Late Latin circare to go about, from Latin circum round about circum-. First known use: 14th centuryt.