finding

[ fahyn-ding ]

/ ˈfaɪn dɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR finding ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person or thing that finds; discovery.

Often findings. something that is found or ascertained.

Law. a decision or verdict after judicial inquiry.

findings, tools, materials, etc., used by artisans.

Nearby words

find true north, finder, finder's fee, finders keepers, losers weepers, finders, keepers, finding, findlay, fine, fine and dandy, fine art, fine arts

Origin of finding

before 1000; Middle English, Old English; see find, -ing¹

Related forms

non·find·ing, noun

Definition for finding (2 of 2)

find

[ fahynd ]

/ faɪnd /

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.

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 forms

find·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 finding

And there is definitely something to finding solace in food, familiarity, and memory.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone|Samantha Levine|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Finding the shop is a trip in itself and an introduction to a slice of history.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Finding a smuggler in Ventimiglia is easier than finding good food.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Finding the common bonds that help us realize that we have far more in common than that which separates us.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

“We were finding people in possession of thousands of paper prescriptions,” he said.
No More Paper Prescriptions: Docs Fight Fraud by Going Electronic|Dale Eisinger|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Finding that the propeller would now work, Captain Williamson gave orders for full speed astern.
First at the North Pole|Edward Stratemeyer
Diamond had not seen the lightning, for he had been intent on finding the face of North Wind.
At the Back of the North Wind|George MacDonald
It is a very peculiar species, and some difficulty has been found in finding it a place.
Narrative Of The Voyage Of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Commanded By The Late Captain Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. Etc. During The Years 1846-1850. Including Discoveries And Surveys In New Guinea, The Louisiade Archipelago, Etc. To Which Is Added The Account Of Mr. E.B. Kennedy's Expedition For The Exploration Of The Cape York Peninsula. By John Macgillivray, F.R.G.S. Naturalist To The Expedition. In Two Volumes. Volume 1.|John MacGillivray
What if I should be led into betraying my feelings on finding myself under no other eye than her own!
The Woman in the Alcove|Anna Katharine Green
Finding no notice, I found the place at last, after a good deal of difficulty.
Broke|Edwin A. Brown

British Dictionary definitions for finding (1 of 2)

finding

/ (ˈfaɪndɪŋ) /

noun

a thing that is found or discovered

law the conclusion reached after a judicial inquiry; verdict

(plural) US the tools and equipment of an artisan

British Dictionary definitions for finding (2 of 2)

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with finding

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)