Definition
To look for or search for something or someone.
Example
Estoy buscando mis llaves por toda la casa.
Show translation
I am looking for my keys all over the house.
Etymology
From Old Spanish *buscar*, likely derived from a Vulgar Latin or pre-Roman root related to "box" or "shrub" — the idea of rummaging through undergrowth. Some scholars link it to a Proto-Germanic source akin to Old High German *busc* (bush), reflecting the notion of searching through bushes.
Cultural note
*Buscar* is one of the most versatile and high-frequency verbs in Spanish. A classic cultural touchstone is the proverb *"El que busca, encuentra"* — roughly "Seek and you shall find" — echoing the biblical phrase and widely used in everyday speech. Note that while *buscar* already means "to look for," learners should never add *por* after it (*buscar por* is a common anglicism to avoid); you simply say *busco trabajo*, not *busco por trabajo*.