search engine

noun

: computer software used to search data (such as text or a database) for specified information
also : a site on the World Wide Web that uses such software to locate key words in other sites

Examples of search engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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By automating critical processes, these technologies can enhance operational efficiency while analyzing search trends, user intent and descriptive domain names to improve visibility through enhanced search engine optimization (SEO) and organic search performance. Lisa Box, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Soon, information from a business’s storefront (such as its hours or its phone number) could be gleaned from Street View images and then appear in search engine results. Hank Sanders, New York Times, 13 May 2025 Market research firm Gartner estimated last year that search engine volume would drop 25% by 2026 as consumers gravitate toward AI tools. Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 11 May 2025 The case, which is in its remedial phase, has found Google guilty of monopolistic practices, such as paying Apple $20 billion a year to be the default search engine on Safari. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for search engine

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of search engine was in 1984

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Cite this Entry

“Search engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/search%20engine. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

search engine

noun
: computer software used to search data (as text or a database) for specified information
also : a website that uses such software

More from Merriam-Webster on search engine

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