search

verb \ ˈsərch \

|Updated on: 23 Jun 2018

Examples: search in a Sentence

searched; searching; searches

transitive verb

1 : to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something: such as

a : to examine in seeking something

searched the north field

b : to look through or explore by inspecting possible places of concealment or investigating suspicious circumstances

c : to read thoroughly : check; especially : to examine a public record or register for information about

search land titles

d : to examine for articles concealed on the person

e : to look at as if to discover or penetrate intention or nature

2 : to uncover, find, or come to know by inquiry or scrutiny —usually used with out

intransitive verb

1 : to look or inquire carefully

searched for the papers

2 : to make painstaking investigation or examination

—

searchability

play \ˌsər-chə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

searchable

play \ˈsər-chə-bəl\ adjective

—

searcher

noun

—

searchingly

play \ˈsər-chiŋ-lē\ adverb

See search defined for English-language learners

See search defined for kids

Examples of search in a Sentence

They haven't found him yet, so they have to keep searching.
The police searched her for concealed weapons.
He was searched by the guard before he was allowed to enter the courtroom.
The software allows you to search thousands of sites at the same time.
She searched for information on the Web.
He searched her face, hoping to see some glimmer of emotion.

Recent Examples of search from the Web

After troopers called off the search, Leota's family kept searching for him, Peters said.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "Man who crashed ATV in Chatanika River found dead," 19 June 2018
Makayla Hardcastle was with the group searching in the cornfields.

— caitlin o'kane, CBS News, "Dog waits with missing 3-year-old in cornfield overnight until help arrives," 17 June 2018
In front of the Lodge is a sign that says searching the moon for the bugs of june.

— heather radke, Longreads, "A Beginner’s Guide to Fly Fishing With Your Father," 16 June 2018
The ball sticks obligingly to his feet, leaving his eyes free to dart around, searching for the right pass or putting himself in the best position to try to score.

— andi thomas, Vox, "Soccer star Mo Salah’s massive popularity is changing perceptions of Muslims in the UK," 15 June 2018
Because his disappearance set off a months-long search, the organization that bears his name now donates bloodhounds to law enforcement agencies to help them search for missing people.

— gal tziperman lotan, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Tiny bloodhound joins Osceola County Sheriff's Office," 15 June 2018
On social media, South Florida radio fans wondered what had happened to JP, posting comments and searching for news about the morning personality.

— johnny diaz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "JP has a new radio home in South Florida, hosting 'Revolution' 93.5 FM morning show," 14 June 2018
Like many other creatives searching for affordable studio space, the couple first worked out of Lauren’s mother’s garage.

— sophia markoulakis, San Francisco Chronicle, "The Podolls are closing their SF store and family fashion label," 14 June 2018
Chris Anderson and Fatima Silva Photo: Investigation Discovery The investigators search out witness after witness, including the jury foreman at the Cain trial, a man with plenty to say when asked the right questions.

— dorothy rabinowitz, WSJ, "‘Reasonable Doubt’ Review: Lives on the Line," 14 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'search.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and 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 — more at circum-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

search Synonyms

search

noun

1 a : an act of searching

a search for food

go in search of help

b : an act of boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas in exercise of right of search

2 obsolete : a party that searches

3 : power or range of penetrating; also : a penetrating effect

See search defined for English-language learners

Examples of search in a Sentence

We will begin a search for a new manager this week.
I performed a search for the file.
I did a Web search for restaurants in that area.

Recent Examples of search from the Web

Officers from the Glendale and Pasadena police departments were called in to help in the search, Green said.

— andy nguyen, latimes.com, "Man reportedly choked woman days prior to attempting to kill her in Burbank house fire," 19 June 2018
Reuters reported that at least 100 rescue personnel were involved in the search.

— mike ives, New York Times, "Rescuers Search for More Than 160 Missing After Indonesian Ferry Sinks," 19 June 2018
Joe Hart, who spent last season on loan at the London Stadium, has returned to parent club Manchester City, leaving the Hammers in search for a new goalie.

— SI.com, "Swansea's Lukas Fabianski Set for Premier League Return as West Ham Look to Complete Summer Deal," 18 June 2018
But such thinking would give the company an open door to use its dominance in search to expand into any number of businesses.

— robert levine, BostonGlobe.com, "Google is hugely powerful. Is antitrust law up to the job?," 13 June 2018
The sheriff's department used that information to update other agencies who might assist in the search, Esser said.

— jim riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A week later, Waukesha County Sheriff officials still don't know where Jonathan Pogreba is hiding," 13 June 2018
No stone would be left unturned in the search for talent.

— henry young, CNN, "The secrets to Germany's World Cup success," 13 June 2018
Privacy - Terms Police thanked the woman's neighbors and local media for assisting in the search.

— glenn e. rice and max londberg, kansascity, "Leawood woman who went missing Friday after a morning run is reunited with family," 8 June 2018
Authorities on Thursday ordered a temporary suspension in the search for the missing, saying adverse weather conditions and the persistence of hot material just inches below the surface put rescue workers in danger.

— anthony harrup, WSJ, "Guatemalan Volcano Emits More Ash, Rock as Death Toll Rises," 8 June 2018

First Known Use of search

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

search Synonyms

Synonyms

hunt, quest;

Related Words

shakedown;

sweep;

chase, pursuit;

reconnaissance, scout;

canvass (also canvas), survey;

exploration, probe;

forage;

SEARCH Defined for English Language Learners

search

verb

: to carefully look for someone or something : to try to find someone or something
: to carefully look for someone or something in (something)
: to carefully look through the clothing of (someone) for something that may be hidden

search

noun

: an attempt to find someone or something : the act or process of looking for someone or something
: an attempt to find information in a database, network, Web site, etc., by using a computer program

SEARCH Defined for Kids

search

verb \ ˈsərch \

searched; searching

1 : to go through or look around carefully and thoroughly in an effort to find something

… she searched the nearby shore for signs of an intruder.
—E. B. White, The Trumpet of the Swan

2 : to carefully look for someone or something

3 : to look in the pockets or the clothing of (someone) for something hidden

search

noun

: an act or instance of looking for someone or something

Law Dictionary

search

noun

1 : an exploratory investigation (as of an area or person) by a government agent that intrudes on an individual's reasonable expectation of privacy and is conducted usually for the purpose of finding evidence of unlawful activity or guilt or to locate a person

warrantless searches are invalid unless they fall within narrowly drawn exceptions
—State v. Mahone, 701 P.2d 171 (1985)

— see also exigent circumstances, plain view 2, probable cause at cause 2, reasonable suspicion, search warrant at warrant — compare seizure

Note: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and requires that a warrant may issue only upon probable cause and that the warrant must particularly describe the place to be searched. Some searches, such as a search incident to an arrest, have been held to be valid without a warrant.

— administrative search

: an inspection or search carried out under a regulatory or statutory scheme especially in public or commercial premises and usually to enforce compliance with regulations or laws pertaining to health, safety, or security

one of the fundamental principles of administrative searches is that the government may not use an administrative inspection scheme as a pretext to search for evidence of criminal violations
—People v. Madison, 520 N.E.2d 374 (1988)

— called also administrative inspection, inspection, regulatory search; see also probable cause at cause 2

Note: The U.S. Supreme Court held in Camara v. Municipal Court, 387 U.S. 523 (1967), that a reasonable administrative search may be conducted upon a showing of probable cause which is less stringent than that required for a search incident to a criminal investigation. The Court stated that the reasonableness of the search can only be determined by “balancing the need to search against the invasion which the search entails.” Cases following Camara have stated that the probable cause requirement is fulfilled by showing that the search meets reasonable administrative standards established in a nonarbitrary regulatory scheme.

— border search

: a search made of a person upon crossing into the U.S. at a border or its equivalent (as the airport at which the person arrives in the U.S.)

Note: Probable cause is not required for a border search.

— consent search

: a warrantless search conducted upon the voluntarily given consent of a person having authority over the place or things to be searched

— inventory search

: a warrantless search (as of an impounded automobile) conducted for the purpose of placing personal property in safekeeping to prevent loss of the property and claims against police for such loss

— protective search

: a search (as a frisk) conducted by a law enforcement officer for the purpose of ensuring against threats to safety (as from a concealed weapon) or sometimes to prevent the destruction of evidence

— regulatory search

: administrative search in this entry

— shakedown search \ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n-\

: a search for illicit or contraband material (as weapons or drugs) in prisoners' cells that is usually random and warrantless

Note: In Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517 (1984), the U.S. Supreme Court held that Fourth Amendment protections do not extend to searches of prisoners' cells.

— strip search

: a search for something concealed on a person conducted after removal of the person's clothing

2 : an act of boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas in exercise of the right to do so under international law (as in time of war)

3 : an examination of a public record or registry — see also title search