A method and system for searching a wide area network that enables users to find the information they seek more quickly and more easily than prior art search engines are disclosed. Aspects of this disclosure include a process for making use of a user's prior search queries for query definition; a process for similarly making use of prior search queries by other users; a process for expanding and clarifying the meaning of queries; a process for including paid and other preferred results in an overall query result; and a process for using user evaluation data from previous search query results to identify results that should be included or removed from a current result.