English Reference
adjective · noun

searching

adj. · n.
US /ˈsɝtʃɪŋ/ UK /sˈɜːtʃɪŋ/ search·ing UK spelling searchings

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.very thorough and intended to find out the truth.

    adj.thorough, penetrating, or inquisitive in nature; often used to describe looks or questions that seek hidden information.

    Simple

    The journalist asked several searching questions about where the money went.

    In context

    The professor gave the student a searching look, silently questioning the validity of the excuses provided for the late assignment.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    n.the act of looking for something.

    n.the gerund form used as a noun to denote the process or instance of seeking.

    Simple

    After much searching, she finally found her passport at the bottom of a drawer.

    In context

    Years of searching finally yielded results when the historians uncovered the original manuscript in a private collection.

Usage searching for survivors

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated