search
gb/sˈɚt͡ʃ/ us/sˈɚt͡ʃ/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Look for something or information
To try to find something by looking for it carefully.
Usage pattern:
to search [something] for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'search' with 'research'. 'Search' means to look for something specific, while 'research' means to study a topic in depth.
Synonyms
look for (More general and informal; not necessarily involving detailed checking.)
|
seek (More formal or literary tone, often used in serious contexts.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not look for or pay attention to something.)
Collocations
search the internet
|search a room
|search for clues
|search a database
|search the house
Themes
daily life
|technology
|investigation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police searched the house for evidence.
- I spent hours searching the internet for travel deals.
- She searched her bag but couldn’t find her phone.
- We searched the database for matching records.
- He searched the crowd for a familiar face.
Learner examples
- I searched my room for my keys.
- We searched the park for our dog.
- She searched the web for new shoes.
- They searched the box for the missing toy.
- He searched his pockets for money.
Noun
B1
action
2
Act of trying to find something
The act of trying to find something.
Synonyms
hunt (Informal; can imply a longer or more challenging process.)
|
quest (More literary; often used metaphorically.)
Antonyms
neglect (Failure to look for something that should be found.)
Collocations
conduct a search
|search warrant
|search party
|area search
Themes
daily life
|investigation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The search for survivors continued through the night.
- Police carried out a search of the suspect’s home.
- We organized a search party to find the missing child.
- The search ended when they discovered the lost dog.
Learner examples
- The search took three hours.
- We joined the search for the missing cat.
- The police started a search of the house.
- They began a search in the forest.
Verb
technical
A2
action
3
Look up data on a system
To type words into a computer or phone to find information online.
Usage pattern:
to search [database/website] for [something]
Synonyms
browse (Less precise; implies looking casually rather than systematically.)
Antonyms
close (To stop looking for information on a system.)
Collocations
search online
|search Google
|search the database
|search the archives
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- You can search Google for recipes using specific ingredients.
- I searched the company’s website for job openings.
- He searched the database to verify the customer’s details.
Learner examples
- I searched Google for pictures of cats.
- She searched the website for cheap flights.
- We searched the app for new games.
Grammar
Dictionary form
search
IPA
GB/sˈɚt͡ʃ/
US/sˈɚt͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
search (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (search)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: search
- Plural: searches
Verb
- Base: search
- 3rd Person Singular: searches
- Present Participle: searching
- Past: searched
Word family
Forms
searches
noun
searching
verb
searched
verb
Core family
searcher
noun
searchable
adjective B2
Related words
research
verb B1
researcher
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
unsearchable
adjective
Expressions
search for
1/sˈɚt͡ʃ fɚ/
phrasal verb
Try to find something carefully
To try to find someone or something by looking carefully.
Examples
- I’m searching for my lost wallet.
- They searched for hours but found nothing.
search high and low
1/sˈɚt͡ʃ hˈaɪ ˈænd lˈoʊ/
idiom
informal
Look everywhere possible
To look in every place you can think of to find something.
Examples
- We searched high and low for the missing keys.
- She searched high and low but couldn’t find her glasses.
strip search
1/stɹˈɪp sˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Search by removing clothes
To check someone for hidden things by making them take off their clothes.
Examples
- The suspect was taken into custody and given a strip search.
- The suspect was taken into custody for a strip search.
- Airport security performed a strip search after finding suspicious items.
- Airport security rarely performs a strip search without cause.