verb
Very common
GOO-guhl
Google (verb) means to search for information about something online, especially using the Google search engine. Example: “Let me google the opening hours before we drive all the way there.”
verb
1
To search for information about something online, especially using the Google search engine.
"Let me google the opening hours before we drive all the way there."
"I googled the restaurant before we went."
"Just google it if you're not sure."
name
1
A major technology company best known for its search engine.
"Google is headquartered in Mountain View, California."
How to use google
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo look something up online, or the name of the company/search engine that made this common.
When to use it
Lowercase "google" as a verb is standard informal usage; capitalize "Google" when naming the company or product.
Common pairings
google it
just google
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Word forms
- Plural
- googles
- Third person singular
- googles
- Past tense
- googled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Let me _____ the opening hours before we drive all the way there.
Etymology
From the company name Google, itself derived from "googol," a term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for google
See all rhymes for google →Frequently asked questions
What does “google” mean?
The word “google” means to search for information about something online, especially using the Google search engine. In plain terms, to look something up online, or the name of the company/search engine that made this common.
How do you pronounce “google”?
“Google” is pronounced GOO-guhl (/ˈɡuː.ɡəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “google” in a sentence?
Here is “google” used in a sentence: “I googled the restaurant before we went.”
What part of speech is “google”?
Depending on how it is used, “google” can be a verb and a name.
Where does the word “google” come from?
The word “google” dates back to around 100. From the company name Google, itself derived from "googol," a term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros.
Is “google” a common word?
“Google” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “google” have?
“Google” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to search for information about something online, especially using the Google search engine.
Is google a verb?
Yes. Although Google began as the brand name of a search engine, "to google" has become an accepted verb meaning to look something up online. It entered major dictionaries around 2006. Written lowercase, it is used generically — many people say they will "google it" even when using a different search engine.
What is the difference between google and search?
"Search" is the general term for looking for information anywhere — a library, a database, or the web. "Google" is a specific, informal way of saying you searched online, named after the dominant search engine. Googling is a kind of searching, but the word implies a quick web lookup rather than any formal research.
Why is google spelled with a lowercase g as a verb?
When "Google" refers to the company or brand, it is capitalised. As a general verb meaning to search online, it is usually written lowercase — "I'll google that" — because it is being used as an ordinary word rather than a name. This shift from brand to everyday verb is called genericisation.
What is an example of using google as a verb?
You might say, "I didn't know the answer, so I googled it," or "Google the restaurant to check its opening hours." It works in past and present tense — googling, googled, googles. In each case it simply means looking something up online, typically by typing a query into a search engine.
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