(NEXSTAR) – A total solar eclipse, Taylor Swift Super Bowl mania and Elmo checking in on the country's mental health were just a few stops on our wild ride through 2024 – one that left us searching for answers to many of the same questions.
America questioned many things, including some basics like the words we use to communicate with each other. Whether out of a desire to better understand Generation Alpha, or just a grammar gut check, these were the top results for "is ... a real word," according to Google Trends:
We also learned about ennui, "a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction," according to Merriam-Webster, with Google searches spiking after the June 2024 release of hit Pixar film "Inside Out 2," which features a character based on the emotion.
Instead of cooking, Americans were more interested in a recipe related to the AI-based online game Infinite Craft, which allows you to combine basic elements like "water," "wind," and "fire" to unlock others. The top results for "how to make ... " in 2024 were "how to make human in infinite craft" and "how to make life in infinite craft."
Another major event marking 2024 was the Paris Olympics, which had Americans wondering just "how heavy" various things were. The top three queries were for the shot put, hammer throw and discus, in that order.
We also formed new relationships and questioned existing ones in 2024. The top search for "when should ..." was "when should a relationship become exclusive." "Is it okay to have doubts in a relationship" was the other top relationship search.
Breaking down some of 2024's top search topics by city – you can find yours here – also revealed some interesting differences.
The overall top trending song of the year was "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar. "The Alchemy" by Taylor Swift was most searched in only one U.S. city – Kansas City, Missouri.
There were also music "sister cities" with the exact same top 5 trending songs. Residents of Buffalo, New York; and Columbus, Ohio searched these hits in equal measures:
As did Louisville, Kentucky and the Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem area of North Carolina:
But with 2024 nearly over, what are Americans wondering about the year ahead?
On Wednesday, the hottest "2025" Google searches included questions about the lineup at Dreamville Music Festival in April, the MLB draft, and who the coaches will be on "The Voice."
