only to find

Use this dictionary, I gave you already the right free access
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only
Function: adverb
b : with nevertheless the final outcome or result<won a great deal, only to lose it all later on>

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I thought the phrase was an idiom. I just looked it up in my dictionary and only has the same definition as yours.

With the final result; nevertheless: received a raise only to be laid off.

However, I'm not sure I know how to apply it, especially when my understanding of nevertheless is not very good.

Did I use it correctly in my orig

I tried so hard looking for her whereabouts only to find it on a site that I haven't visited in years.

Yes you used it correctly.

Does it mean that I finally found it after searching for a long time?

> Does it mean that I finally found it after searching for a long time?
Not necessarily, but it could. What is shows is that the alternative showed up with much less effort and a bit of chance.

Marius Hancu much less effort and a bit of chance

This sounds like the opposite of what comes before.

I sense that only works like in constrast. Am I right?

No, but I won't insist. Read more examples at Google books and find the meaning yourself.

I have seen and heard this usage many times which is why I thought "only to find" was an idiom. But I still don't quite understand it. Maybe another expert could help me interpret the meaning better.

New2grammarI tried so hard looking for her whereabouts only to find it on a site that I haven't visited in years.

Does it mean that I finally found it after searching for a long time?

No. It just means "and then ( surprise! ) I found it on a site ... ( hadn't visited ... )"
When Magellan went around the world, he kept going in t

Thanks, CJ. I'm starting to feel the meaning. "Surprise" helps.