Techniques for searching in a multitenant database environment. A graphical user interface is provided that includes a search functionality for searching a database within a multitenant database environment. The multitenant environment includes data for multiple client entities, each identified by a tenant identifier (ID) having one of one or more associated users. Users of the client identities can only access data identified by their tenant ID. The multitenant environment is at least a hosted database provided by an entity separate from the client entities, and provides on-demand database service to the client entities. Suggested search results are provided in response to user-generated search query input. The suggested search results are based on monitored usage patterns corresponding to a user and are refined in response to subsequent user-generated search query input. Search results are provided based on the user-generated search query input and/or a user selection from the suggested search results.