find

[ fahynd ]

/ faɪnd /

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See synonyms for: find / finding / found on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), found, find·ing.

to come upon by chance; meet with: He found a nickel in the street.

to locate, attain, or obtain by search or effort: to find an apartment; to find happiness.

to locate or recover (something lost or misplaced): I can't find my blue socks.

to discover or perceive after consideration: to find something to be true.

to gain or regain the use of: His anger finally helped him find his tongue.

to ascertain by study or calculation: to find the sum of several numbers.

to feel or perceive: He finds it so.

to become aware of, or discover (oneself), as being in a condition or location: After a long illness, he found himself well again. She woke to find herself at home.

to discover: Columbus found America in 1492.

Law.

to determine after judicial inquiry: to find a person guilty.
to pronounce as an official act (an indictment, verdict, or judgment).

to provide or furnish: Bring blankets and we'll find the rest of the equipment for the trip.

South Midland and Southern U.S. (of farm animals) to give birth to: The brown cow found a calf yesterday.

verb (used without object), found, find·ing.

to determine an issue after judicial inquiry: The jury found for the plaintiff.

British Hunting. to come upon game.

noun

an act of finding or discovering.

something found; a discovery, especially a valuable or gratifying one: Our cook was a find.

Hunting. a discovery of game, especially foxes.

Verb Phrases

find out,

to discover or confirm the truth of (something).
to detect or expose, as a crime or offense.
to uncover the true nature, identity, or intentions of (someone): They found him out before he could launch the rebellion.

OTHER WORDS FOR find

2 achieve, win, earn, acquire.

See synonyms for find on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about find

find fault. fault (def. 16).

find oneself, to discover where one's real interests or talents lie, and follow them: After trying many occupations, he finally found himself and became an account executive.

Origin of find

First recorded before 900; Middle English finden, Old English findan; cognate with German finden, Dutch vinden, Old Norse finna, Gothic finthan

OTHER WORDS FROM find

find·a·ble, adjectivere·find, verb (used with object), re·found, re·find·ing.

Words nearby find

finasteride, finback, finca, finch, Finchley, find, finder, finder's fee, finders, keepers, Finders keepers, losers weepers, fin de siècle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use find in a sentence

The new find suggests that at least some signals that look like short GRBs are in fact magnetar flares.
Exploding neutron star proves to be energy standout of the cosmos|Lisa Grossman|February 12, 2021|Science News For Students
The Daily Telegraph and Illustrated London News also covered his finds enthusiastically.
What archaeologists got wrong about female statues, goddesses, and fertility|Annalee Newitz|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science
He takes his Instagram followers along for the ride, feeding them a steady stream of photos of his finds, along with an occasional look at how he returned them to their former glory.
Amateur Baltimore historian unearths new passion for archaeology|Angela Roberts|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
A round stone excavated at Israel’s Tabun Cave in the 1960s represents the oldest known grinding or rubbing tool, say researchers who scrutinized the 350,000-year-old find.
The oldest known abrading tool was used around 350,000 years ago|Bruce Bower|January 21, 2021|Science News

More recently, Google introduced Product Shipping rich results in response to increased online shopping, and Home Activities to help individuals in lockdown find exercises and activities to do at home.
How to use schema markup to make an impression in search|Martha van Berkel|January 11, 2021|Search Engine Land
We won't find out this season, though it comes up occasionally.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the end, I find it never fails to modernize even the most dramatic things.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist|Judnick Mayard|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What criticisms of last season did you find helpful, and not so helpful?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But as you get older, I find I get more tunes and I have to work harder at the words.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I still do find it a tremendously useful device to invent a character and have the character sing the song.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I find myself chained to the foot of a woman, my noble Cornelia would despise!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
The sailors sometimes use it to fry their meat, for want of butter, and find it agreeable enough.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
Your sacrifice shall be the agony of agonies, the death of deaths, and yet you'll find yourself unable to resist.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
But you will find most colleges and most college societies bar religious instruction and discussion.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
But one thing remained for Felipe now, If Ramona lived, he would find her, and restore to her this her rightful property.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson

British Dictionary definitions for find

find

/ (faɪnd) /

verb finds, finding or found (faʊnd) (mainly tr)

to meet with or discover by chance

to discover or obtain, esp by search or effortto find happiness

(may take a clause as object) to become aware of; realizehe found that nobody knew

(may take a clause as object) to regard as being; considerI find this wine a little sour

to look for and point out (something to be criticized)to find fault

(also intr) law to determine an issue after judicial inquiry and pronounce a verdict (upon)the court found the accused guilty

to regain (something lost or not functioning)to find one's tongue

to reach (a target)the bullet found its mark

to provide, esp with difficultywe'll find room for you too

to be able to payI can't find that amount of money

find oneself to realize and accept one's real character; discover one's true vocation

find one's feet to become capable or confident, as in a new job

noun

a person, thing, etc, that is found, esp a valuable or fortunate discovery

Derived forms of find

findable, adjective

Word Origin for find

Old English findan; related to Old Norse finna, Gothic finthan, Old High German fintan to find

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with find

find

In addition to the idioms beginning with find

find fault
find it in one's heart
find one's bearings
find oneself
find one's way
find out
find true north

also see:

hard way (find out the)

find

OTHER WORDS FOR find

Idioms about find

Origin of find

OTHER WORDS FROM find

Words nearby find

Words related to find

How to use find in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for find

Derived forms of find

Word Origin for find

Other Idioms and Phrases with find