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to search for answers

to search for answers

8 3.0
To look for information or a solution to a problem
  • phrasal verb
  • /sɜːrʧ fɔːr ˈænsərz/
: buscar respuestas
  • Sometimes we search too hard for answers that are right in front of us.
  • search for answers to questions

Like I haven't gone searching for answers and things.

Examples

  • They are frustrated that their program is failing, and they are searching for answers.

    Blog text (2)
  • Jon and Andy search for answers in order to separate fact from fiction.

  • And so when we start to search for answers, many times we can start to think that it was our fault.

  • I have no option but to search for answers.

    Blog text (6)
  • Sometimes you can search everywhere for answers.

  • Scientists all over the world are always searching for answers.

    Blog text (10)
  • The historian must ask productive questions about specific unique events and then search for answers to these questions.

    Academic text (1991)
  • This prompts students to search for answers to their questions when they begin working with the technology.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Without a single unified voice, humanity has been left searching for answers to the unknown.

  • Lois Severson spent months searching for answers about her daughter's mysterious illness.

Synonyms

to look for
vsto search for answers
∞ 1.0

To try to find something or someone

aims to find solutions or information to solve problems or satisfy curiosity
search
vsto search for answers
∞ 1.0

An act of looking for something or someone

is narrower, targeting solutions rather than any item
to look up
vsto search for answers
357 1.4

To find information about something in a book, list, or online

focuses more on finding practical solutions rather than only factual sources

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Thorough

research
∞ 3.4
to investigate
∞ 2.8
to search for answers
8 3.0
to look up
357 1.4
to ask
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

search for answers infinitive
searched for answers past participle
searching for answers present participle
searches for answers third person singular

Morphology

search + for + answer

The meaning 'to look for solutions or information' is directly and compositionally derived from 'search' (to try to locate), the preposition 'for' (indicating purpose/target), and 'answers' (solutions or responses). This verb + preposition + noun pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Search for answers paints a clear picture: someone doing a careful search through books, files, or web pages to find the missing answers. That's why it means 'to look for information' or 'to try to solve a problem'.