Browse: meaning, definitions and examples

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browse

[braʊz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

internet search

To search for information on the internet

Synonyms

scan, search, surf.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
browse	Use this word when you are looking through items casually, without a specific goal in mind. It's often used when shopping or looking through information online. I decided to browse through the bookstore for a while. She's just browsing the internet for funny videos.
search	Use this word when you are looking for something specific and you have a clear goal. It's commonly used online or when looking for physical items. I need to search for my lost keys. They searched the internet for cheap flight tickets.
surf	This word is best used when talking about casually exploring the internet, without a specific aim. It can also imply more active navigation through webpages. He spent the evening surfing the web. She enjoys surfing social media sites.
scan	This word is appropriate when quickly looking over something to find specific information. It's often used when skimming through documents or articles. He scanned the report to find the key statistics. She scanned the crowd for a familiar face.

Examples of usage

I like to browse the internet for interesting articles.
She spends hours browsing online shopping websites.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

bookstore

To look casually through books or magazines without necessarily intending to buy anything

Synonyms

flip through, peruse, scan.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
browse	Best used when looking through items in a casual or relaxed manner without a specific goal. She loves to browse through fashion magazines on weekends. He browsed the bookstore, looking at different genres.
peruse	Refers to reading or examining something carefully and thoroughly. He perused the contract carefully before signing it. She perused the art exhibit, studying each piece in detail.
scan	Ideal for quickly looking over text or information to find specific details or data. She scanned the list to find her name. He scanned the menu before deciding what to order.
flip through	Suitable for quickly turning pages of a book or magazine, often looking for something specific. He flipped through the photo album, searching for a picture of his grandparents. She flipped through her notes to find the right section.

Examples of usage

We spent the afternoon browsing in the bookstore.
She enjoys browsing through cookbooks for new recipes.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

internet search

The act of casually looking for information on the internet

Synonyms

scanning, search, surfing.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
browse	Use when casually looking through a collection of items, such as in a store or online. It implies looking without a specific goal. She likes to browse through books at the library He spent the afternoon browsing online shops
search	Ideal for situations where you are looking for something specific and with a clear purpose. Can be used for both physical and digital contexts. They searched the house for the missing keys He searched online for information about the topic
surfing	Commonly refers to casually exploring or navigating the internet. Often involves moving from one webpage to another without a specific goal. He spent hours surfing the internet last night She loves surfing through different blogs in her free time
scanning	Best used when quickly looking through something to find specific information. Often involves a fast, superficial look. He was scanning the newspaper for job ads She scanned the crowd for a familiar face

Examples of usage

I had a quick browse to see if I could find any interesting news.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Old French 'brouser,' meaning 'to graze' or 'to forage,' similar to how animals search for food.
It entered the English language in the late 15th century, originally used in the context of moving casually through a field.
By the late 19th century, 'browse' expanded to include looking through books or items, reflecting a casual approach to exploration.

Technology

In the digital age, 'browsing' often refers to navigating the internet, allowing users to explore vast amounts of information.
Web browsers, like Chrome and Safari, are tools that facilitate browsing the web, making it easier for users to find and access content.
The concept of browsing has influenced how companies design websites, focusing on user-friendly interfaces for easy navigation.

Consumer Behavior

Research shows that browsing can influence purchase decisions; people often buy items they weren't initially looking for.
In physical stores, the layout is often designed to encourage browsing, with products displayed enticingly to draw in customers.
Online shopping platforms often use personalized recommendations to facilitate browsing and enhance user experience by showing relevant items.

Literature

Many authors encourage casual browsing of books, arguing that it can lead to surprising discoveries and inspire new ideas.
In literary discussions, 'browsing' can refer to engaging with various texts without a specific purpose, allowing for serendipitous insights.
The concept of browsing has appeared in literature metaphorically, representing how people navigate through thoughts, ideas, and memories.

Translations

Translations of the word "browse" in other languages:

🇵🇹 navegar

explorar
percorrer

🇮🇳 ब्राउज़ करना

देखना
खोजना

🇩🇪 durchsuchen

stöbern
durchblättern

🇮🇩 menjelajah

mencari
melihat-lihat

🇺🇦 переглядати

шукати
блукати

🇵🇱 przeglądać

szukać
przeszukiwać

🇯🇵 閲覧する (etsuran suru)

見る (miru)
探す (sagasu)

🇫🇷 parcourir

naviguer
consulter

🇪🇸 navegar

explorar
hojear

🇹🇷 göz atmak

gezinmek
aramak

🇰🇷 검색하다 (geomsaekhada)

둘러보다 (dulleoboda)
탐색하다 (tamsaekhada)

🇸🇦 تصفح (tasafah)

استكشاف (istikshaf)
بحث (bahath)

🇨🇿 procházet

prohlížet
prohledávat

🇸🇰 prehliadať

prehľadávať
hľadať

🇨🇳 浏览 (liúlǎn)

搜索 (sōusuǒ)
查看 (chákàn)

🇸🇮 brskati

preiskovati
pregledovati

🇮🇸 skoða

vafra
leita

🇰🇿 қарап шығу

іздеу
шолу

🇬🇪 დათვალიერება (datvaliereba)

ძიება (dzieba)
კვლევა (kvleva)

🇦🇿 göz atmaq

axtarmaq
araşdırmaq

🇲🇽 navegar

explorar
hojear

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,681, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
17678 bequeath
17679 atropine
17680 vestiges
17681 browse
17682 infliction
17683 loader
17684 staid
...