1. I spend a lot of time looking for things.
2. I spend a lot of time in looking for things.
3. I spend a lot of time while/as I look for things.
(Does #1 mean #2 or #3?)
In a way, but 2 and 3 have extra (unneeded) words in them. #1 is best.
In this context, both sentences #1 and #2 convey the same meaning. They express that you spend a significant amount of time searching for things. However, sentence #3, while grammatically correct, conveys a slightly different meaning.
1. "I spend a lot of time looking for things."
This sentence means that you dedicate a significant amount of time to searching for objects or items.
2. "I spend a lot of time in looking for things."
This sentence is grammatically correct but is not commonly used in everyday conversation. The use of "in" before "looking for things" is unnecessary and sounds unnatural.
3. "I spend a lot of time while/as I look for things."
This sentence suggests that you are emphasizing the concurrent nature of how you spend time and search for things. It highlights that the time you spend aligns with the time you actively search for items.
In summary, sentence #1 is the most natural and commonly used expression, while sentence #2 sounds awkward due to the unnecessary use of "in." Sentence #3 is grammatically correct but emphasizes the concurrent nature of time and searching compared to the other two sentences.