Also means
to try
Usage Note
Cercare means 'to look for' (always with a direct object, never the preposition per: cerco le chiavi, NOT cerco per le chiavi). When followed by di + infinitive it means 'to try': cerco di capire = 'I try to understand.' It takes avere as its auxiliary. The c before a/o/u stays hard; spelling uses ch before e/i (cerchi, cerchiamo).
Examples
"Cerco le chiavi da stamattina."
Natural Translation
I have been looking for the keys since this morning.
Literal Translation
I-search the keys from this-morning
Related Words
Explore Italian by topic