find

American  

[fahynd] / faɪnd /

verb (used with object)

found, finding

1. to come upon by chance; meet with.

   He found a nickel in the street.

2. to locate, attain, or obtain by search or effort.

   to find an apartment; to find happiness.

   Synonyms:

   acquire, earn, win, achieve

3. to locate or recover (something lost or misplaced).

   I can't find my blue socks.

4. to discover or perceive after consideration.

   to find something to be true.

5. to gain or regain the use of.

   His anger finally helped him find his tongue.

6. to ascertain by study or calculation.

   to find the sum of several numbers.

7. to feel or perceive.

   He finds it so.

8. 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.

9. to discover.

   Columbus found America in 1492.

10. Law.

    1. to determine after judicial inquiry.

       to find a person guilty.

    2. to pronounce as an official act (an indictment, verdict, or judgment).

11. to provide or furnish.

    Bring blankets and we'll find the rest of the equipment for the trip.

12. 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, finding

1. to determine an issue after judicial inquiry.

   The jury found for the plaintiff.

2. British Hunting. to come upon game.

noun

1. an act of finding or discovering.

2. something found; a discovery, especially a valuable or gratifying one.

   Our cook was a find.

3. Hunting. a discovery of game, especially foxes.

verb phrase

1. find out

   1. to discover or confirm the truth of (something).

   2. to detect or expose, as a crime or offense.

   3. to uncover the true nature, identity, or intentions of (someone).

      They found him out before he could launch the rebellion.

idioms

1. find fault. fault.

2. 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.

find British  

/ faɪnd /

verb

1. to meet with or discover by chance

2. to discover or obtain, esp by search or effort

   to find happiness

3. (may take a clause as object) to become aware of; realize

   he found that nobody knew

4. (may take a clause as object) to regard as being; consider

   I find this wine a little sour

5. to look for and point out (something to be criticized)

   to find fault

6. (also intr) law to determine an issue after judicial inquiry and pronounce a verdict (upon)

   the court found the accused guilty

7. to regain (something lost or not functioning)

   to find one's tongue

8. to reach (a target)

   the bullet found its mark

9. to provide, esp with difficulty

   we'll find room for you too

10. to be able to pay

    I can't find that amount of money

11. to realize and accept one's real character; discover one's true vocation

12. to become capable or confident, as in a new job

---

noun

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

find More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing find

• hard way (find out the)

---

Other Word Forms

• findable adjective
• refind verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of find

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

Explanation

To find something means to discover it. When you're strolling through a green field, you might try to find a four-leaf clover. You can find something deliberately, or by stumbling upon it, like when you find a five-dollar bill on the sidewalk. In this meaning, find means obtain, but it can also mean observe, such as when you find that reading in dim light gives you a headache. As a noun, find is the thing you discover, like your elephant costume, the best find in day of garage sale shopping.

Example Sentences

The expedition failed to find gold or save souls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Somewhere out there is a young person who’s going to find this film and not even know it’s what they’ve been waiting for.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

But low-cost carriers, by the very nature of their business models, will find that much tougher to do.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Respondents said jobs were a bit easier to find, perhaps a sign of a slight pickup in hiring.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

One morning after a hard night’s rain we arrived to find the ground sodden and heavy.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• detect
• discover
• encounter
• identify
• locate
• meet
• notice
• recover
• spot
• strike
• turn up
• uncover
• unearth