my @matching elements=grep /$wahtever/, @array; print $_, "\n" for @matching elements; # But then just: # print $_, "\n" for grep /$wahtever/, @array; # if you don't need @matching elements elsewhere #### foreach (@array) { print "Matched :$_:\n" if /$value/; } #### /$value/ and print "Matched :$_:\n" for @array;