find

[fahynd]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR find 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.

Nearby words

Idioms

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

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

SYNONYMS FOR find

2. achieve, win, earn, acquire.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR find ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for find

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

With Ebola still raging in West Africa, the race to find a vaccine is heating up.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Somehow he had expected to find her there, and he watched her again, as he had done through Pre Antoine's vines.
Bayou Folk|Kate Chopin
Her eyes might find no blemish in his person, and Love knocked upon her heart, requiring her to love, since her time had come.
French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays of Marie de France|Marie de France
The monotheism which we find in Greece and India generally took this form.
The Religious Sentiment|Daniel G. Brinton
We find, then, that even for this remaining division of human activities, scientific culture is the proper preparation.
Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects|Herbert Spencer
"To find out who they are is what is going to worry us," added Benton.
The Slayer Of souls|Robert Chambers

British Dictionary definitions for find

find

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 Formsfindable, 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

Word Origin and History for find

find

Old English findan "come upon, meet with, discover; obtain by search or study" (class III strong verb; past tense fand, past participle funden), from Proto-Germanic *finthan "to come upon, discover" (cf. Old Saxon findan, Old Frisian finda, Old Norse finna, Middle Dutch vinden, Old High German findan, German finden, Gothic finþan), originally "to come upon."

The Germanic word is from PIE root *pent- "to tread, go" (cf. Old High German fendeo "pedestrian;" Sanskrit panthah "path, way;" Avestan panta "way;" Greek pontos "open sea," patein "to tread, walk;" Latin pons (genitive pontis) "bridge;" Old Church Slavonic poti "path," peta "heel;" Russian put' "path, way"). To find out "to discover by scrutiny" is from 1550s (Middle English had a verb, outfinden, c.1300).

find

"person or thing discovered," 1825, from find (v.).

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

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

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

noun

Verb Phrases

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of find

Examples from the Web for find

find

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

noun

Word Origin for find

find

find

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