search

verb

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\ ˈsərch

searched; searching; searches

Definition of search

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

noun

Definition of search (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

Other Words from search Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing search Learn More About search

Other Words from search

Verb

searchability \ ˌsər-chə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

searchable \ ˈsər-chə-bəl

\ adjective

searcher noun

searchingly \ ˈsər-chiŋ-lē

\ adverb

Examples of search in a Sentence

Verb 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. Noun 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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Anyone with oily hair should search for non-greasy formulas that aren’t thick and don’t feel heavy on the hair. — Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 May 2022 Beyond scouring the internet, parents like the Jaehnerts tirelessly search store shelves daily. — Ray Sanchez, CNN, 21 May 2022 Alabama will now search for its third head coach in the last 39 years. — Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, 19 May 2022 Business leaders, by nature, search for paths of addition and multiplication. — David Meyer, Fortune, 16 May 2022 From the privacy and safety of a home computer, users could search community forums and trade instant messages that provided support, encouragement and guidance. — Michelle Delgado, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2022 Shine will continue as athletic director, as well his roles as MIAA ice hockey chair and on the board of directors, but for the first time since the late 1970s, the school must search for a boys’ hockey coach. — Jim Clark, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2022 Cybercriminals constantly search for new ways to hack into your computer, steal your money and data. — Nancy L. Anderson, Forbes, 6 May 2022 Check Vrbo or Fripp Island Resort to search for houses and condos. — Laura Johnston, cleveland, 3 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The Guard received another request Tuesday to aid in search and rescue near East Rosebud Lake. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 16 June 2022 As some communities became completely surrounded by water, at times without power or drinking water, search and rescue teams worked to evacuate residents. — Elizabeth Wolfe And Claudia Dominguez, CNN, 16 June 2022 At the request of local law enforcement agencies, the Montana National Guard sent helicopters to assist in search and rescue efforts in the small towns of Roscoe and Cooke City. — Fox News, 15 June 2022 One of the search-and-rescue dogs was pregnant, authorities said. — Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 15 June 2022 On June 3, upwards of $25,000 in tools were presented to the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company’s Search and Rescue team, in partnership with the Emergency Volunteer Project, to support search, rescue and recovery efforts in Ukraine. — Courtney Mcgee, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2022 Officers on the force also engage in maritime firefighting and underwater search and rescue. — David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2022 Two urban search-and-rescue dogs also searched the field. — Brian J. Varela, The Arizona Republic, 11 June 2022 In the college search and application experience, students, and those who support them, need to act like data scientists. — Brennan Barnard, Forbes, 9 June 2022 See More

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.

Learn More About search

Dictionary Entries Near search

searcer

search and rescue team

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Last Updated

6 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“Search.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/search. Accessed 28 Jun. 2022.

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More Definitions for search

verb

\ ˈsərch

searched; searching

Kids Definition of search

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

4 : to use a computer to find information (as in a database or on the Internet)

noun

Kids Definition of search (Entry 2 of 2)

: an act or instance of looking for someone or something

noun

Legal Definition of search

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 sense 2, probable cause at cause sense 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 sense 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

transitive verb

Legal Definition of search (Entry 2 of 2)