Meaning
to search for, seek, research
- to investigate, research
- to seek, strive for
- to search for (formally or officially)
In a sentence
La polizia sta ricercando il fuggitivo in tutta la regione.
The police are searching for the fugitive throughout the region.
Gli scienziati ricercano nuove fonti di energia pulita.
Scientists are researching new sources of clean energy.
Non ricercano soldi, ma una vita tranquilla.
They aren't seeking money, but a quiet life.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| ricercare | infinitive |
| ricerchiamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| ricerco | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| ricercate | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| ricerchi | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| ricercano | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| ricerca | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| ricercavamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| ricercavo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| ricercavate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| ricercavi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| ricercavano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| ricercava | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| ricercammo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| ricercai | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| ricercaste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| ricercasti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| ricercarono | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| ricercò | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| ricercheremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| ricercherò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| ricercherete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| ricercherai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| ricercheranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| ricercherà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| ricerchiamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| ricerchi | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| ricerchiate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| ricerchi | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
| ricerchino | subjunctive · present · plural · 3rd person |
| ricerchi | subjunctive · present · singular · 3rd person |
| ricercassimo | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| ricercassi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| ricercaste | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| ricercassi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| ricercassero | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| ricercasse | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| ricercheremmo | conditional · present · plural · 1st person |
| ricercherei | conditional · present · singular · 1st person |
| ricerchereste | conditional · present · plural · 2nd person |
| ricercheresti | conditional · present · singular · 2nd person |
| ricercherebbero | conditional · present · plural · 3rd person |
| ricercherebbe | conditional · present · singular · 3rd person |
| ricerchiamo | imperative · plural · 1st person |
| ricercate | imperative · plural · 2nd person |
| ricerca | imperative · singular · 2nd person |
| ricercando | gerund |
| ricercato | past · participle |
Usage notes
- More formal and literary than cercare; in everyday speech, Italians usually say cercare.
- Often used in academic, legal, or bureaucratic contexts: ricercare informazioni, cause, soluzioni.
- Do not confuse with ricercato, which often means refined/stylish, or wanted by police, depending on context.