# searching

/ˈsɝtʃɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈɜːtʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/searching
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. thorough and deep

adjective · CEFR B2

very thorough and intended to find out the truth.

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

- The journalist asked several searching questions about where the money went.
- The professor gave the student a searching look, silently questioning the validity of the excuses provided for the late assignment.

### 3. the act of a search

noun · CEFR B1

the act of looking for something.

For teachers: the gerund form used as a noun to denote the process or instance of seeking.

- After much searching, she finally found her passport at the bottom of a drawer.
- Years of searching finally yielded results when the historians uncovered the original manuscript in a private collection.

## Examples

- She is searching her bag for the keys.
- The rescue team spent hours searching the dense forest for the missing hikers before nightfall.
- Historians are currently searching the national archives for any correspondence that might shed light on the diplomatic crisis of 1924.

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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.