browse
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to eat, nibble at, or feed on (leaves, tender shoots, or other soft vegetation).
-
to graze; pasture on.
-
to look through or glance at casually or randomly.
He's browsing the shelves for something to read.
-
to access and view (website content) with a Web browser, usually without looking for something specific.
a secure way to browse the Web.
verb (used without object)
-
to feed on or nibble at foliage, lichen, berries, etc.
-
to graze.
-
to glance at random through a book, magazine, etc.
-
to look leisurely at goods displayed for sale, as in a store.
-
to access and view websites with a Web browser, as in
If you love to browse while on the road, you can easily take advantage of free Wi-Fi .
noun
-
tender shoots or twigs of shrubs and trees as food for cattle, deer, etc.
-
an act or instance of browsing.
verb
-
to look through (a book, articles for sale in a shop, etc) in a casual leisurely manner
-
computing to search for and read hypertext, esp on the Internet
-
(of deer, goats, etc) to feed upon (vegetation) by continual nibbling
noun
-
the act or an instance of browsing
-
the young twigs, shoots, leaves, etc, on which certain animals feed
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of browse
1400–50; late Middle English browsen, perhaps a verbal derivative of Anglo-French broz, plural of brot shoot, new growth, Old French brost < Old Low Franconian *brust bud, noun derivative of *brustjan; compare Old Saxon brustian to come into bud
Explanation
To browse is to look casually for whatever catches your eye, rather than searching for something specific. Window shopping and scanning the newspaper for interesting headlines are forms of browsing. You can browse in a store, a library, or browse the Internet (with — what else? — an Internet "browser"). When it comes to reading material, browse means the same as peruse. Back in the 16th century, though, this verb was used in reference to animals feeding on, or grazing on, the buds of trees.
Vocabulary lists containing browse
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
No Easy Answers: Our Digital World and "Gadgets and Games"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Browse our picks throughout the week for what to watch on the couch, at the movie theater or on stage.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025
For TV, the streamer will begin testing a Live in Browse function, which automatically streams an ongoing sporting match, such as a Premier League face-off, at the top of the screen.
From Slate • Jan. 6, 2025
Dr Nicola Herron, a Derry-based GP, said the experience of Ms Meenan Browse and her family was "beyond heart-breaking", adding that doctors in Northern Ireland were becoming increasingly concerned about people travelling abroad for surgery.
From BBC • Sep. 6, 2023
Browse Wirecutter’s picks of the best Amazon Prime Day deals.
From New York Times • Jul. 11, 2023
"That confounded old Browse has gone and sneaked!" cried the other, with a flush of passion on his face.
From The Triple Alliance Its trials and triumphs by Avery, Harold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
