Definition
To look for or search for someone or something.
Example
Elle cherche ses clés depuis ce matin.
Show translation
She has been looking for her keys since this morning.
Etymology
From Old French *cerchier*, from Late Latin *circare* ("to go around, to explore"), derived from Latin *circus* ("circle"). The idea was of moving in circles to cover an area — a fitting image for a search.
Cultural note
*Chercher* appears in one of the most famous French aphorisms: **"Cherchez la femme"** ("Look for the woman"), coined by Alexandre Dumas père. It is used wryly to suggest that a woman is behind a man's troubles. The phrase has entered English as a well-known borrowed expression.