Poke around Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Thorough Search Use when looking carefully inside a confined space or much limited area for something specific. She poked around the attic for the lost heirloom. Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Physical It can mean searching in a non-physical space, like the internet. I spent hours poking around online for good flight deals. Pro Tip 3/3Casual Context More common in casual or informal situations, not in formal reports or documents. Let's poke around the shop for some snacks.