# combed

/ˈkoʊmd/ (US) · /kˈəʊmd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/combed
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to search through something very carefully to find what you are looking for. You might do this when looking for a lost item or checking for mistakes in a document.

For teachers: to search through something systematically and thoroughly in order to find a specific item or detail. Often used in the passive voice to describe the process of a search.

## Examples

- The police combed the area for the missing keys.
- The editor combed through the manuscript to find any small spelling errors before the final print.
- After the storm, the rescue teams combed the coastline for any signs of the missing vessel, using both drones and traditional search methods.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.