SEARCHING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does searching mean? 

• SEARCHING (adjective)
  The adjective SEARCHING has 3 senses:

1. diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation

2. having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect

3. exploring thoroughly

  Familiarity information: SEARCHING used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SEARCHING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation

Synonyms:

inquisitory; probing; searching

Context example:

a searching investigation of their past dealings

Similar:

inquiring (given to inquiry)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect

Synonyms:

searching; trenchant

Context example:

trenchant criticism

Similar:

intelligent (having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exploring thoroughly

Similar:

explorative; exploratory (serving in or intended for exploration or discovery)

 Context examples 

She seemed to be searching for something that she could not find.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Jo skipped up, and sitting on the top step, affected to be searching for her book, but was really wondering how best to introduce the dangerous object of her visit.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He looked me up and down with a searching light blue eye.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Her eyes dropped before his searching gaze.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

She tries the door, and finding it locked, goes about the room searching for the key.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

In searching for genes that reverse the rounded morphology of transformed cells in culture, RECK was identified (reversion-inducing, cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs).

(Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

After months of searching I discovered where he was.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Webb will probe deeper into the planetary atmospheres, searching for heavier gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, water and oxygen.

(New Clues to TRAPPIST-1 Planet Compositions, Atmospheres, NASA)

Based on gene discovery program in CGAP, the GAI is currently exploring the application of multiple technological approaches to searching the 3'UTR of genes for sequence variation.

(Genetic Annotation Initiative, NCI Thesaurus)

While searching for structures associated with the meninges, the researchers noticed vessel-like patterns.

(Lymphatic Vessels Discovered in Central Nervous System, NIH)