verb

rechercher

search

Rechercher is a French verb that means to search for, to look for, or to research something.

Meaning:

  1. To Search For / To Look For:
    It refers to the act of trying to find something or someone.
    Example:
    Je recherche mes clés.
    (I am looking for my keys.)

  2. To Research:
    It can also mean to conduct a research or investigation into a subject, often in a scientific, academic, or professional context.
    Example:
    Elle recherche les causes du changement climatique.
    (She researches the causes of climate change.)

Parts:

  • Prefix re-: suggests repetition or intensifying the action (search again or thoroughly).
  • Root chercher: means "to search" or "to look for."

Synonyms:

  • Chercher (to look for) — less formal or less intense than "rechercher."
  • Examiner (to examine) — more about careful inspection, often used in research context.
  • Explorer (to explore) — to search or examine more broadly or discover.
  • Fouiller (to rummage, to search thoroughly) — implies a more in-depth or physical search.

Antonyms:

  • Oublier (to forget) — opposite in the sense of losing an item and not searching for it.
  • Ignorer (to ignore) — opposite in the sense of not looking for something intentionally.

Summary:

Rechercher is primarily a verb meaning to search for or to conduct research. It is used in everyday contexts where someone is trying to locate something or someone and in more formal or academic contexts to describe the process of investigating or studying a topic.

Make “rechercher” part of your vocabulary.

Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Examples

Paul doit rechercher des informations sur internet.verb

Paul must search for information on the internet.

Nous avons recherché une solution simple.verb

We searched for a simple solution.

Keep exploring French

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).