26984 words

searches

16 definitions • 39 examples
1
to look somewhere carefully in order to find something:

Examples:

search something for someone The police searched the woods for the missing boy.
search something for something She searched his face for some sign of forgiveness, but it remained expressionless.
search (in/through) something for something He searched (in/through) his pockets for some change.
search high and low I've searched high and low (= everywhere), but I can't find my birth certificate.
search something from top to bottom The detectives searched the house from top to bottom (= all over it), but they found no sign of the stolen goods.
search your mind/memory for something figurative She searched her mind/memory for the man's name, but she couldn't remember it.
search after figurative People who are searching after inner peace sometimes turn to religion.
2
to try to find the answer to a problem:

Examples:

Philosophers have searched for millennia but they haven't found the meaning of life.
3
A police officer who searches you or your possessions looks for something you might be hiding:

Examples:

be searched for The men were searched for drugs and then released.
4
to look for information on a computer, the internet, etc.:

Examples:

search something for something I searched the internet for the best deal.
5
an attempt to find someone or something:

Examples:

After a long search, they eventually found the missing papers.
carry out/conduct/make a search of The police carried out/conducted/made a thorough/exhaustive search of the premises, but they failed to find any drugs.
6
an attempt to find an answer to a problem:

Examples:

search for It has been suggested that the search for happiness is our sole purpose in life.
7
an attempt to find information on a computer, on the internet, etc.:

Examples:

do a search for I did a search for yoga clubs in my area.
8
trying to find something:

Examples:

She was shot by a sniper when she went out in search of firewood.
9
to look somewhere carefully in order to find something:

Examples:

[ T ] Dogs were brought in to search the area for survivors.
[ I ] Teens are often searching for their identity.
10
the act or process of looking carefully in order to find something:

Examples:

[ C ] After a long search, they finally found the lost child.
[ U ] It’s a book about the search for love.
11
to look somewhere carefully in order to find something or someone:

Examples:

search for sth/sb For the past six months, she has been unsuccessfully searching for a job.
They are still searching for a new chief executive.
search sth for sth We will search the market for the cheapest deal for you.
search among sth We have begun searching actively among many potential suppliers in order to identify the best product at the best price.
search through sth The regulators must be able to search through detailed records.
12
to look for information on a computer or on the internet:

Examples:

search sth for sth She searched the Internet for information about the loans.
search (sth) by sth The database of executive branch workers can be searched by an employee's name.
search through sth The new file system will allow users to search through all their files at one time.
search on a word/phrase Search on the word "retrospective" and then filter the results.
13
to examine a place or a person carefully in order to find something or someone:

Examples:

The offices of the credit rating agency were searched by police.
14
an attempt to find someone or something:

Examples:

search for sb/sth He will lead the high-profile search for a new chief executive officer.
a job search
15
the action of looking for information on a computer or on the internet:

Examples:

search for sth a search for all restaurants in the area
run a search on sb/sth I ran a search on him to see if I could find out any more.
16
a careful examination of a place or a person in order to find something or someone:

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