# lookup a public key by mail address (or name)

$ gpg2 --search-keys --keyserver pgp.mit.edu john.doe@acme.com
gpg: searching for "john.doe@acme.com" from hkp server pgp.mit.edu
(1)     John M. Doe <jdoe@acme.com>
          1024 bit DSA key 5CC24DD3C6AC5A24C42185D14E1C3825ABAEB548, created: 1999-04-06
Keys 1-1 of 1 for "john.doe@acme.com".  Enter number(s), N)ext, or Q)uit >

# enter the number of key you want to import or next/quit.