search; hunt
"The hikers spent hours searching for the missing trail marker in the dense forest."
In plain English: Searching is the act of looking for something specific by going through different places or items.
"The police began searching for the missing boy after he failed to return home from school."
present participle of search
"The detective was searching through every drawer for the missing evidence."
In plain English: Searching means looking for something you want to find.
"The detective is searching for clues at the crime scene."
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
"a probing inquiry"
"a searching investigation of their past dealings"
exploring thoroughly
"The detective spent hours searching every corner of the abandoned warehouse until he finally found the hidden evidence."
Thorough.
"The detective spent hours searching through every drawer and corner of the apartment for a single clue."
In plain English: Searching describes something that is difficult to find because it is hidden or hard to locate.
"The police launched an intensive searching operation to find the missing child."
Derived from Old English sērcian, it originally meant to seek out, look for, or investigate thoroughly. The present participle form evolved from this root to describe the ongoing act of trying to find something lost or hidden.