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 Human bones discovered last week at a Florida construction site have halted the building of an upscale community while an anthropologist team from the University of South Florida (USF) helps detectives search the dig site. — Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 28 July 2022 Know where to search: The statues are spread out between all four theme parks, but most are located within Magic Kingdom Park. — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 27 July 2022 The news came as a blow to search media specialist Lea Yang, who had been working at the ad agency for less than a year on an H-1B visa. — Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 Two top aides to Vice President Mike Pence testified to the federal grand jury in the case last week, and prosecutors have issued subpoenas and search warrants to a growing number of figures tied to Trump and the campaign to forestall his loss. — BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2022 Two top aides to Vice President Mike Pence testified to the federal grand jury in the case last week, and prosecutors have issued subpoenas and search warrants to a growing number of figures tied to Mr. Trump and the campaign to forestall his loss. — New York Times, 26 July 2022 Elder councils and survivors are key in the investigation, giving researchers and scientists guidance on how to proceed and where to search. — Hira Humayun, CNN, 25 July 2022 The idea that the North Pole might be open water encouraged European explorers to search for a passage first to the Far East and then a northwest passage across the top of Canada. — Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 23 July 2022 The full list of restaurants is available to search at Bhamrestaurantweek.com. — Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, 22 July 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In search of executive assistants equally adept at preparing for board meetings and managing housekeepers and chauffeurs, many are asking staffing services to recruit for a loftier title: chief of staff. — Callum Borchers, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 That department lost its reserve rig, fire-fighting equipment and dealt with about three feet of water in their station, after manning search and rescues until the National Guard arrived. — Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 4 Aug. 2022 Detective Joshua Jaynes, with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, obtained the no-knock warrant used in the March 13, 2020, search of Taylor's apartment. — Antonio Planas, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2022 An online search shows local black car service begins at $70 an hour. — Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 4 Aug. 2022 Sousa said realtors can sign buyers up for an MLS property search which tailors the available homes to certain criteria and price point. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2022 Dan Kaplan, a senior client partner for Korn Ferry’s CHRO practice, has been on the search side of corporate HR for over 25 years. — Amber Burton, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2022 Prosecutors have said the suspect admitted to the shooting once police arrested him following an extended search for the gunman who opened fire from the rooftop of a building along the parade route. — CBS News, 3 Aug. 2022 The search committee is chaired by board of directors member Mo Stein and includes other board members, musicians and community leaders as ambassadors. — Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 3 Aug. 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.

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Dictionary Entries Near search

searcer

search and rescue team

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Last Updated

5 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Search.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/search. Accessed 15 Aug. 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)