Looking vs. Searching — What's the Difference?

Looking is the act of intentionally focusing visual perception on someone or something, for the purpose of obtaining information, and possibly to convey interest or another sentiment. A large number of troponyms exist to describe variations of looking at things, with prominent examples including the verbs "stare, gaze, gape, gawp, gawk, goggle, glare, glimpse, glance, peek, peep, peer, squint, leer, gloat, and ogle".

Examining closely or thoroughly; probing

To employ one's sight, especially in a given direction or on a given object

Keenly observant

To search

Present participle of search

To turn one's glance or gaze

(of an investigation, etc.) Thorough.

To turn one's attention; attend

Looking over closely; penetrating; severe.

To turn one's expectations

Search; hunt

To seem or appear to be

Exploring thoroughly; scrutinizing; penetrating; trying; as, a searching discourse; a searching eye.

To face in a specified direction

Diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation;

To turn one's eyes on

Having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect;

To convey by one's expression

Exploring thoroughly

To have an appearance of conformity with

To appear to be

The act or instance of looking

A gaze or glance expressive of something

Appearance or aspect

Looks Physical appearance, especially when pleasing.

A distinctive, unified manner of dress or fashion

Present participle of look

As the last part of compound adjectives: relating to or having the appearance of.

The act of one who looks; a glance.

Having a certain look or appearance; - often compounded with adjectives; as, good-looking, grand-looking, etc.

The act of one who looks; a glance.

The manner in which one looks; appearance; countenance; face.

The act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually;

The act of searching visually

Appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms;