1. A method within a hybrid ternary content addressable memory (TCAM), the method comprising: comparing a first portion of a search word to a first portion of a stored word in a first TCAM stage; and comparing a second portion of the search word to a second portion of the stored word in a second TCAM stage when the first portion of the search word matches the first portion of the stored word, the first portion of the search word being different than the second portion of the search word, and the first TCAM stage being configured as a first type TCAM and the second TCAM stage being configured as a second type TCAM, the first type TCAM being different than the second type TCAM.