Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense sears, present participle searing, past tense, past participle seared
1. verb
To sear something means to burn its surface with a sudden intense heat.
Grass fires have seared the land near the farming village of Basekhai. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: wither, burn, blight, brand More Synonyms of sear
2. verb
If something sears a part of your body, it causes a painful burning feeling there.
[literary]
I distinctly felt the heat start to sear my throat. [VERB noun]
3. See also searing
More Synonyms of sear
sear in British English1
(sɪə)
verb(transitive)
1.
to scorch or burn the surface of
2.
to brand with a hot iron
3.
to cause to wither or dry up
4. rare
to make callous or unfeeling
noun
5.
a mark caused by searing
adjective
6. poetic
dried up
Word origin
Old English sēarian to become withered, from sēar withered; related to Old High German sōrēn, Greek hauos dry, Sanskrit sōsa drought
sear in British English2
(sɪə)
noun
the catch in the lock of a small firearm that holds the hammer or firing pin cocked
Word origin
C16: probably from Old French serre a clasp, from serrer to hold firmly, from Late Latin sērāre to bolt, from Latin sera a bar
sear in American English1
(sɪr)
adjective
1. alt. sp. of
sere2
verb transitive
2.
to dry up; wither
3.
a.
to scorch or burn the surface of
b.
to brown (meat) quickly at high heat
4.
to brand or cauterize with a hot iron
5.
to make callous or unfeeling; harden
6.
to cause to quail or feel humiliated, as by a scornful glance
verb intransitive
7. Archaic
to dry up; wither
noun
8.
a mark or condition caused by searing
SIMILAR WORDS: burn
Word origin
ME seer < OE sear, dry < IE base *saus > Sans úṣyati, (he) dries, withers, L sudus, dry
sear in American English2
(sɪr)
noun
the catch in a gunlock that holds the hammer cocked or half-cocked
Word origin
< MFr serre, a bolt < OFr serrer, to close, press < VL *serrare, altered (infl. by L serrare, to saw) < LL serare, to bolt, bar < L sera, a bar, bolt
Examples of 'sear' in a sentence
sear
What you get instead is an hour of searing emotional honesty.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She has searing pace and will like the ground.
The Sun (2010)
The searing heat of the day was almost unbearable.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Place in the hot pan and sear on all sides.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Drink it slightly cool with seared tuna.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In the second half he stepped infield instead of using his searing pace.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Now is a time for searing honesty.
The Sun (2010)
He had exquisite technique that was matched by searing pace and deceptive strength.
The Sun (2013)
His previously expressed opinion was that it would be moved to the winter to avoid the searing desert heat.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Good with fish or seared scallops.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Four mountain passes and searing heat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pat the scallops dry and sear on a high heat for 40 seconds each side.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
When the pan is searing hot, place the prawns on top of the salt.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This means that what might have been a searing account of the emotional damage sustained by those caught up in sectarian violence comes across as disappointingly bland.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Heat the remaining oil in a heavy frying pan and sear the scallops on both sides, allowing a maximum of a minute a side.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Anybody who has experienced Delhi in searing April temperatures will know how amazingly tempting curries can be.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is also a heart-rending account of the searing, slow dissolution of a marriage.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
All related terms of 'sear'
bear's-ear
→ auricula
cat's-ear
any of various European plants of the genus Hypochoeris, esp H . radicata, having dandelion-like heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
elephant's-ear
any aroid plant of the genus Colocasia, of tropical Asia and Polynesia , having very large heart-shaped leaves: grown for ornament and for their edible tubers
jew's ear
→ another name for jelly fungus
dog-ear
to fold down the corner of (a page )
1 (verb)
Definition
to cause to wither
Grass fires have seared the land.
Synonyms
wither
Farmers have watched their crops wither because of the drought.
burn
I burnt the toast.
blight
brand
scorch
The bomb scorched the side of the building.
sizzle
shrivel
The plant shrivels and dies.
cauterize
desiccate
dry up or out
2 (verb)
Definition
to scorch or burn the surface of
Sear the red pepper strips until they start to blacken.
Synonyms
flash fry
brown
He browned the chicken in a frying pan.
fry quickly
3 (verb)
Synonyms
distress
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
worry
‘Why didn't you tell us?’ – ‘Didn't want to worry you.’
trouble
Is anything troubling you?
pain
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
wound
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.
upset
She warned me not to say anything to upset him.
bother
That kind of jealousy doesn't bother me.
disturb
He had been disturbed by the news of the attack.
grieve
It grieved me to see him in such distress.
torment
At times, memories returned to torment her.
harass
a celebrity routinely harassed by the paparazzi
afflict
There are four main problems that afflict these people.
harrow
sadden
The cruelty in the world saddens me incredibly.
perplex
Additional synonyms
in the sense of afflict
Definition
to cause someone suffering or unhappiness
There are four main problems that afflict these people.
Synonyms
torment,
trouble,
pain,
hurt,
wound,
burden,
distress,
rack,
try,
plague,
grieve,
harass,
ail (literary),
oppress,
beset,
smite
in the sense of bother
Definition
to trouble (a person) by repeatedly disturbing
That kind of jealousy doesn't bother me.
Synonyms
trouble,
concern,
worry,
upset,
alarm,
disturb,
distress,
annoy,
dismay,
gall,
disconcert,
vex,
perturb,
faze,
put or get someone's back up
in the sense of brown
Definition
to make or become brown or browner, for example as a result of cooking
He browned the chicken in a frying pan.
Synonyms
fry,
cook,
grill,
sear,
sauté
Nearby words of
sear
seam
seaman
seamy
sear
search
search for something or someone
search me!
Synonyms of 'sear'
sear
Explore 'sear' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of burn
Definition
to char or become charred
I burnt the toast.
Synonyms
scorch,
toast,
sear,
char,
singe,
brand
in the sense of disturb
Definition
to upset or worry
He had been disturbed by the news of the attack.
Synonyms
upset,
concern,
worry,
trouble,
shake,
excite,
alarm,
confuse,
distress,
distract,
dismay,
unsettle,
agitate,
ruffle,
confound,
unnerve,
vex,
fluster,
perturb,
derange,
discompose
in the sense of grieve
Definition
to feel or cause to feel great sorrow or distress
It grieved me to see him in such distress.
Synonyms
sadden,
hurt,
injure,
distress,
wound,
crush,
pain,
afflict,
upset,
agonize,
break the heart of,
make your heart bleed
in the sense of harass
Definition
to trouble or annoy (someone) by repeated attacks, questions, or problems
a celebrity routinely harassed by the paparazzi
Synonyms
annoy,
trouble,
bother,
worry,
harry,
disturb,
devil (informal),
plague,
bait,
hound,
torment,
hassle (informal),
badger,
persecute,
exasperate,
pester,
vex,
breathe down someone's neck,
chivvy (British),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
be on your back (slang),
beleaguer
in the sense of harrow
Synonyms
distress,
tear,
wound,
rend (literary),
torture,
rack,
torment,
harass,
wring,
vex,
agonize,
perturb,
lacerate
in the sense of pain
Definition
to cause (a person) physical or mental suffering
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
Synonyms
distress,
worry,
hurt,
wound,
torture,
grieve,
torment,
afflict,
sadden,
disquiet,
vex,
agonize,
cut to the quick,
aggrieve
in the sense of sadden
Definition
to make (someone) sad
The cruelty in the world saddens me incredibly.
Synonyms
upset,
depress,
distress,
grieve,
desolate,
cast down,
bring tears to your eyes,
make sad,
dispirit,
make your heart bleed,
aggrieve,
deject,
cast a gloom upon
in the sense of scorch
Definition
to burn or become burnt slightly on the surface
The bomb scorched the side of the building.
Synonyms
burn,
sear,
char,
roast,
blister,
wither,
blacken,
shrivel,
parch,
singe
in the sense of shrivel
Definition
to become dry and withered
The plant shrivels and dies.
Synonyms
wither,
dry (up),
wilt,
shrink,
wrinkle,
dwindle,
dehydrate,
desiccate,
wizen
in the sense of torment
Definition
to cause (someone) great pain or suffering
At times, memories returned to torment her.
Synonyms
torture,
pain,
distress,
afflict,
rack,
harrow,
crucify,
agonize,
excruciate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of trouble
Definition
to cause trouble to
Is anything troubling you?
Synonyms
bother,
worry,
upset,
disturb,
distress,
annoy,
plague,
grieve,
torment,
harass,
hassle (informal),
afflict,
pain,
fret,
agitate,
sadden,
perplex,
disconcert,
disquiet,
pester,
vex,
perturb,
faze,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
discompose,
put or get someone's back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of upset
Definition
to disturb mentally or emotionally
She warned me not to say anything to upset him.
Synonyms
distress,
trouble,
disturb,
worry,
alarm,
bother,
dismay,
grieve,
hassle (informal),
agitate,
ruffle,
unnerve,
disconcert,
disquiet,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
throw someone off balance,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
discompose
in the sense of worry
Definition
to annoy or bother
‘Why didn't you tell us?’ – ‘Didn't want to worry you.’
Synonyms
trouble,
upset,
harry,
bother,
disturb,
distress,
annoy,
plague,
irritate,
tease,
unsettle,
torment,
harass,
hassle (informal),
badger,
hector,
disquiet,
pester,
vex,
perturb,
tantalize,
importune (formal),
make anxious
in the sense of wound
Definition
to cause an injury to the body or feelings of
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.