chercher

Senses

1. 1.

   to look for; to search for

   to attempt to find by seeking

2. 2.

   to try; to attempt

   to make an effort to do something

3. 3.

   to go and fetch; to go and get

   to retrieve or bring back

Examples

• "Je cherche mes clés."

  I'm looking for my keys.

• "Il cherche à comprendre ce problème."

  He's trying to understand this problem.

• "Peux-tu chercher le pain à la boulangerie?"

  Can you go fetch the bread from the bakery?

Usage

One of the most common French verbs. In the sense "to try/attempt," it is followed by *à* + infinitive (chercher à faire = to try to do). Often used idiomatically in *chercher des ennuis* (to look for trouble) and *chercher midi à quatorze heures* (to make something more complicated than it is).