Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense finds, present participle finding, past tense, past participle found
1. verb
If you find someone or something, you see them or learn where they are.
The police also found a pistol. [VERB noun]
They looked at the map but couldn't find a trace of anywhere called Darrowby. [VERB noun]
I wonder if you could find me a deck of cards? [VERB noun noun]
[Also VERB noun + for]
Synonyms: discover, turn up, uncover, unearth More Synonyms of find
2. verb
If you find something that you need or want, you succeed in achieving or obtaining it.
Many people here cannot find work. [VERB noun]
So far they have not found a way to fight the virus. [VERB noun]
He has to apply for a permit and we have to find him a job. [VERB noun noun]
Does this mean that they haven't found a place for him? [VERB noun + for]
Synonyms: obtain, get, come by, procure More Synonyms of find
3. passive verb
If something is found in a particular place or thing, it exists in that place.
Two thousand of France's 4,200 species of flowering plants are found in the park. [beVERB-ed]
Fibre is found in cereal foods, beans, fruit and vegetables. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: be present, exist, occur, obtain [formal] More Synonyms of find
4. verb
If you find someone or something in a particular situation, they are in that situation when you see them or come into contact with them.
They found her walking alone and depressed on the beach. [VERB noun verb-ing]
She returned to her east London home to find her back door forced open. [VERB noun -ed]
Thrushes are a protected species so you will not find them on any menu. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: encounter, meet, recognize More Synonyms of find
5. verb
If you findyourself doing something, you are doing it without deciding or intending to do it.
It's not the first time that you've found yourself in this situation. [VERB pronoun-reflexive preposition/adverb]
I found myself having more fun than I had had in years. [V pron-refl v-ing]
It all seemed so far away from here that he found himself quite unable to take itin. [V pron-refl adj]
6. verb [no passive, no cont]
If a time or event finds you in a particular situation, you are in that situation at the time mentioned or when the event occurs.
[written]
Daybreak found us on a cold, clammy ship. [VERB noun preposition]
His lunch did not take long to arrive and found him poring over his notepad, [VERB noun verb-ing]
7. verb
If you find that something is the case, you become aware of it or realize that it is the case.
The two biologists found, to their surprise, that both groups of birds survived equallywell. [VERB that]
At my age I would find it hard to get another job. [VERB noun adjective]
We find her evidence to be based on a degree of oversensitivity. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
I've never found my diet a problem. [VERB noun noun]
8. verb
When a court or jury decides that a person on trial is guilty or innocent, you say that the person has been found guilty or not guilty.
She was found guilty of manslaughter and put on probation for two years. [beVERB-ed adjective]
When they found us guilty, I just went blank. [VERB noun adjective]
9. verb
You can use find to express your reaction to someone or something.
I find most of the young men of my own age so boring. [VERB noun adjective]
We're sure you'll find it exciting! [VERB noun adjective]
I find it ludicrous that nothing has been done to protect passengers from fire. [VERB noun adjective]
But you'd find him a good worker if you showed him what to do. [VERB noun noun]
Synonyms: consider, think, hold, believe More Synonyms of find
10. verb
If you find a feeling such as pleasure or comfort in a particular thing or activity, you experience the feeling mentioned as a result of this thing or activity.
How could anyone find pleasure in hunting and killing this beautiful creature? [VERB noun + in]
I was too tired and frightened to find comfort in that familiar promise. [VERB noun + in]
Synonyms: feel, have, experience, sense More Synonyms of find
11. verb
If you find the time or money to do something, you succeed in making or obtaining enough time or money to do it.
I was just finding more time to write music. [VERB noun]
My sister helped me find the money for a private operation. [VERB noun]
12. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]
If you describe someone or something that has been discovered as a find, you mean that they are valuable, interesting, good, or useful.
Another of his lucky finds was a pair of candle-holders.
His discovery was hailed as the botanical find of the century.
Synonyms: discovery, catch, asset, bargain More Synonyms of find
13. See also finding, found
14.
See find one's way
15.
See finds its/their way
16. to find fault with
17. to find one's feet
Phrasal verbs:
See find out
More Synonyms of find
find in British English
(faɪnd)
verbWord forms: finds, finding or found (faʊnd)(mainly tr)
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. find oneself
12. find one's feet
noun
13.
a person, thing, etc, that is found, esp a valuable or fortunate discovery
Derived forms
findable (ˈfindable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English findan; related to Old Norse finna, Gothic finthan, Old High German fintan to find
find in American English
(faɪnd)
verb transitiveWord forms: found or ˈfinding
1.
to happen on; come upon; meet with; discover by chance
2.
to get by searching or by making an effort
find the answer
3.
to get sight or knowledge of; perceive; learn
I find that I was wrong
4.
to experience or feel
to find pleasure in music
5.
a.
to get or recover (something lost)
to find a missing book
b.
to get or recover the use of
we found our sea legs
6.
to realize as being; consider; think
to find a book boring
7.
to get to; reach; attain
the blow found his chin
8.
to declare after careful thought
the jury found him innocent
9.
to supply; furnish
see also UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
verb intransitive
10.
to reach and announce a decision
the jury found for the accused
noun
11.
the act of finding
12.
something found, esp. something interesting or valuable
Idioms:
find oneself
find out
Word origin
ME finden < OE findan, akin to Ger finden, Goth finthan < IE base *pent-, to walk, happen upon, find > L pons, a plank causeway, bridge
More idioms containing
find
find common ground
find your feet
find your tongue
Examples of 'find' in a sentence
find
The internet has also helped to expose rogue builders and helped people to find good ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There were also fears about finding available homes.
The Sun (2016)
You wander round a vast parking lot to find your car.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Money tried to find out who is deemed deserving of a bouquet and who is not.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The jealous husband denied plotting arson but was found guilty by a jury.
The Sun (2016)
In these organisations you will discover diverse teams finding solutions to complex problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The biggest thing was finding a way to win.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But when a face from her past reappears she finds herself in real trouble and drifting from her loved ones.
The Sun (2016)
These can be found in fruits, dark leafy green vegetables and seafood.
The Sun (2016)
A Reading crown court jury found him guilty of attempted murder.
The Sun (2017)
Poland is an especially good place to find antiques.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The next task is to find another significant discovery from its greenfield assets.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What is not at issue is finding something else to take the place of the human subject.
Boyne, Roy Foucault and Derrida - The Other Side Of Reason (1990)
Those who could not pay back the money were to find creative ways to serve others.
Christianity Today (2000)
The people of the new century found pragmatism a heady wine.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
You can also find full park listings online.
The Sun (2013)
When looking for a passive fund find one with a low tracking error.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You will find the right person when the time is right.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
Researchers found fruit and veg rich in antioxidants such as spinach boost the body against the disease.
The Sun (2012)
Police could have a difficult time finding anything.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was also the thrill of finding one new vista and discovery after another.
Arthur Herman THE SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT: The Scots' Invention of the Modern World (2002)
They think they know better than the texts and they will find things.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
She sees her studies as far more important than a means to find a job.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He was publicly accused but then in open court was found not guilty by his peers.
The Sun (2013)
The constant sense of discovery as you find new areas is unbeatable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Use the internet to find instructions for something warm and fragrant that you can heat up.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There, you will also find full terms and conditions.
The Sun (2014)
If we did a head count in the Commons we would find the real dodgers.
The Sun (2011)
Quotations
finders keepers
In other languages
find
British English: find /faɪnd/ VERB
If you find someone or something, you see them or learn where they are.
I can't find my shoes.
American English: find
Arabic: يَجِدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: encontrar
Chinese: 找到
Croatian: naći
Czech: najít
Danish: finde
Dutch: vinden
European Spanish: encontrar
Finnish: löytää
French: trouver
German: finden
Greek: βρίσκω
Italian: trovare
Japanese: 見つける
Korean: 찾다
Norwegian: finne
Polish: znaleźć
European Portuguese: encontrar
Romanian: a găsi
Russian: находить
Latin American Spanish: encontrar
Swedish: hitta
Thai: หา
Turkish: bulmak aradığı bir şeyi
Ukrainian: знаходити
Vietnamese: tìm thấy
All related terms of 'find'
find fame
If you achieve fame , you become very well-known .
find love
Love is a very strong feeling of affection towards someone who you are romantically or sexually attracted to.
find out
If you find something out , you learn something that you did not already know , especially by making a deliberate effort to do so.
oil find
the discovery of oil deposits underground or under the sea
fault-find
to seek out minor imperfections or errors ; carp
find fault
to seek out minor imperfections or errors (in); carp (at)
find oneself
to realize and accept one's real character; discover one's true vocation
find a reason
The reason for something is a fact or situation which explains why it happens or what causes it to happen.
find one's way
If you find your way somewhere , you successfully get there by choosing the right way to go .
find the lady
a game in which players bet on which of three inverted playing cards is the queen
find your feet
to become more confident and learn what to do in a new situation
find a solution
A solution to a problem or difficult situation is a way of dealing with it so that the difficulty is removed.
find common ground
to come to an agreement on something
find favor with
to gain the favor of; be liked by
find favour with
to be approved of by someone
find one's feet
to become capable or confident , as in a new job
find one's level
to find one's most suitable place socially, professionally, etc
find one's tongue
to recover the ability to talk, as after shock or embarrassment
find one's voice
If someone finds their voice , they start to speak in spite of fear or surprise or difficult circumstances .
find your tongue
to begin to talk, when you have previously been too shy or frightened to say anything
to find fault with
If you find fault with something or someone, you look for mistakes and complain about them.
to find one's feet
If you say that someone is finding their feet in a new situation , you mean that they are starting to feel confident and to deal with things successfully.
to get your bearings
to find out where one is or to find out what one should do next
get one's bearings/find one's bearings/lose one's bearings
If you get your bearings or find your bearings , you find out where you are or what you should do next . If you lose your bearings , you do not know where you are or what you should do next.
Chinese translation of 'find'
find
(faɪnd)
Word forms:ptppfound
vt
(= locate)[person, object, exit]找到 (zhǎodào)
⇒ The police found a pistol at his home.警察在他家里找到一支手枪。 (Jǐngchá zài tā jiāli zhǎodào yī zhī shǒuqiāng.)
[lost object]找回 (zhǎohuì)
⇒ He eventually found the book under his bed.他终于在床下找回了那本书。 (Tā zhōngyú zài chuáng xià zhǎohuíle nà běn shū.)
(= discover)[answer, solution]找出 (zhǎochū)
⇒ There is a genuine effort to find a solution.人们真心实意地努力寻找一条解决的途径。 (Rénmen zhēnxīn shíyì de nǔlì xúnzhǎo yī tiáo jiějué de tújìng.)
[object, person]发(發)现(現) (fāxiàn)
⇒ When she got home she found a six-page letter from Tom.她到家时发现了一封汤姆写给她的6页的信。 (Tā dàojiā shí fāxiànle yī fēng Tāngmǔ xiě gěi tā de liùyè de xìn.)
(= consider) 认(認)为(為) (rènwéi)
⇒ I don't find that funny at all.我认为那一点都没什么好玩的。 (Wǒ rènwéi nà yīdiǎn dōu méi shénme hǎowán de.)
(= get)[work, job]得到 (dédào)
⇒ He cannot find work.他没能得到工作。 (Tā méi néng dédào gōngzuò.)
[money]筹(籌)集 (chóují)
⇒ Some families cannot even find enough money for basic needs.有些家庭甚至筹不到满足基本需要的钱。 (Yǒuxiē jiātíng shènzhì chóu bù dào mǎnzú jīběn xūyào de qián.)
[time]有 (yǒu)
⇒ How do you find time to write these books?你怎么有时间写这些书？ (Nǐ zěnme yǒu shíjiān xiě zhèxiē shū?)
n(c)
(= discovery) 难(難)得之才 (nándé zhī cái) (个(個), gè)
⇒ They've got a new singer, and she's a real find.他们已经找到了一位新歌手 ，她是一个真正的难得之才。 (Tāmen yǐjīng zhǎodàole yī wèi xīngēshǒu , tā shì yī gè zhēnzhèng de nándé zhī cái.)
to find sb guilty/not guilty判决(決)某人有罪/无(無)罪 (pànjué mǒurén yǒuzuì/wúzuì)
to find one's way认(認)得路 (rènde lù)
many exotic species are found there那儿(兒)有许(許)多奇异(異)的物种(種) (nàr yǒu xǔduō qíyì de wùzhǒng)
I found myself starting to laugh我不由自主地笑了起来(來) (wǒ bù yóu zìzhǔ de xiàole qǐlái)
to find that ... 发(發)觉(覺) ... (fājué ... )
⇒ When I woke up, I found I couldn't move my legs.醒来时，我发觉腿动不了了。 (Xǐnglái shí, wǒ fājué tuǐ dòng bù liǎo le.)
to find sth easy/difficult觉(覺)得某事容易/难(難) (juéde mǒushì róngyì/nán)
see usage note
discover
All related terms of 'find'
find out
( fact, truth ) 查明 chámíng ⇒ You'll have to watch next week to find out what happens. → 让你们等到下周看看会怎样。 Ràng nǐmen děngdào xiàzhōu kànkan huì zěnyàng.
I can't find it
我找不到 wǒ zhǎo bù dào
to find employment
找到工作 zhǎodào gōngzuò
to find that ...
发(發)觉(覺) ... fājué ... ⇒ When I woke up, I found I couldn't move my legs. → 醒来时，我发觉腿动不了了。 Xǐnglái shí, wǒ fājué tuǐ dòng bù liǎo le.
please find enclosed
兹(茲)附上 zī fùshàng
to find one's feet
( fig ) 适(適)应(應) shìyìng
to find one's niche
找到自己的位置 zhǎodào zìjǐ de wèizhì
to find one's way
认(認)得路 rènde lù
did you find anything?
你找到些什么(麼)吗(嗎)？ nǐ zhǎodào xiē shénme ma?
it is rare to find ...
难(難)得找到 ... nándé zhǎodào ...
to find favour with sb
( suggestion, plan ) 受到某人的青睐(睞) shòudào mǒurén de qīnglài
to find out about sth
( deliberately ) 获(獲)知某事 huòzhī mǒushì
I find the heat unbearable
热(熱)得我实(實)在受不了 rè de wǒ shízài shòu bù liǎo
to find fault with sb/sth
找某人/某事的错(錯) zhǎo mǒurén/mǒushì de cuò
to find sth easy/difficult
觉(覺)得某事容易/难(難) juéde mǒushì róngyì/nán
to find the middle ground
找到中间(間)立场(場) zhǎodào zhōngjiān lìchǎng
I find it astonishing that ...
我对(對) ... 感到惊(驚)讶(訝) wǒ duì ... gǎndào jīngyà
I'm always the last to find out
我总(總)是最后(後)一个(個)知道 wǒ zǒngshì zuìhòu yī gè zhīdào
to be surprised to find/see sth
真没(沒)想到会(會)发(發)现(現)/看到某物 zhēn méi xiǎngdào huì fāxiàn/kàndào mǒuwù