searching (for)

verb

present participle of search (for)
1
as in seeking

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in finding out

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for searching (for)
  1. seeking
  2. finding out
  3. hunting
  4. digging up
  5. accompanying
  6. running down
  7. scaring up
  8. hearing
Verb
  • The director has been learning Portuguese in preparation for the film, seeking direct communication with the cast and crew and greater proximity to the characters’ dialogues and experiences.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The ultimate package holiday destination, its name was once synonymous with mass tourism, cheap deals and expats seeking sun.
    — Siobhan Grogan, TheWeek, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of seeking
Verb
  • The lawsuit says that Carney trained Hoffman as a paramedic student and worked closely with him, only finding out about his death through the news.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • As the officers recall the incident, Hondo focuses on finding out who the mole is and how to proceed with this information.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of finding out
Verb
  • The scientists used data from NASA’s exoplanet-hunting satellite Kepler, which searched for exoplanets via very precise, high-cadence brightness measurements of hundreds of thousands of stars.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bonding over their passion for interiors, antiques hunting at the open market, the meeting resulted in a new holiday home collaboration unveiled in September.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of hunting
Verb
  • Adorn Your Exterior with Potted Plants and Flowers Looking to add charm without digging up your lawn?
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Rodents Many different types of rodents may be digging up your yard, including squirrels, chipmunks, and even rats.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of digging up
Verb
  • The order and accompanying legislation must be designed so that collecting and disseminating foreign trade secrets advances defense and intelligence priorities and does not unduly distort the free market.
    — DAVID S. COHEN, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Tornado potential will increase as rain bands accompanying Isaias approach the northeastern Gulf Coast Friday evening and overnight.
    — MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of accompanying
Verb
  • The dress was crafted with contrasting fabrics, pairing a firmer, structured bodice with a plunging neckline and buttons running down the front placket with a softer skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Tammy Faye stuck by Bakker, often with tears running down her mascara, even as many saw his downfall as a fitting symbol of the greed and hypocrisy of the 1980s.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of running down
Verb
  • The sequel won’t be going in Japan or China, but will be scaring up Korea in addition to other major foreign territories.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Not to mention scaring up plenty of customers.
    — Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
Definition of scaring up
Verb
  • In intimate groups of up to 10 women, hearing one woman growl can give another permission to do the same.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • His delight in working with actors, fencers, acrobats, musicians and our creative team is infectious, and there is such pleasure in hearing his delicious language come alive and discovering what his world can become on stage.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of hearing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

searching
searching (for)
searching (for or out)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Searching (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searching%20%28for%29. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of abscond

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All