comb

verb

Definition of combnext
as in to search
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something combed the library for the missing book

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of comb This, however, is a mistake, according to Christopher Wai, co-founder of Sixone, a tech firm based in Canada that has been using AI to comb through textile waste for recyclable material. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 After the topical treatment, comb the hair with a fine-toothed comb to ensure that no live lice remain. — Emily J. C. Wong, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 Lawyers have spent years chasing down missing witnesses, litigating requests for DNA testing or combing through police files. — Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026 Given the prime location, everything is at your disposal from combing history tomes at Yountville Library to ticking off as many wine tastings as possible in one day. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for comb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comb
  1. search
  2. rake
  3. find
Verb
  • But at sea, Spanish guarda costas (armed customs officials) pounced on British ships, allegedly searching for goods being smuggled in for sale.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Planning and workflow platforms already allow buyers to search inventory, map locations, analyze audiences, compare formats and manage campaigns.
    — Denys Kanel, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of search
Verb
  • For some homeowners, that means raking or blowing leaves and putting them into composting bags or on the side of the road to be hauled off to municipal compost centers.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The lines are chalked, the grass is cut and the dirt has been raked.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of rake
Verb
  • Neither team could find a flow from three-point range in the first half as the teams combined to shoot five for 29 from deep — three of 16 by Golden State and two for 13 by Atlanta.
    — Janie McCauley, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Of the first 15 plays for the Dallas offense, 10 were on the ground, and the Cowboys found success.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of find

Browse Nearby Words

comatose
comb
combat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Comb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comb. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All