find

noun countable

UK /faɪnd/

Word Forms

singular	find
plural	finds

1
something good, interesting, or valuable that you discover by chance
The statue could be one of the finds of the century.
a real find:
Our new nanny is a real find!
Synonyms and related words
Something or someone that is good or very good
masterpiece
inspiration
miracle

find

noun countable

US /faɪnd/

Word Forms

singular	find
plural	finds

1
something good, interesting, or valuable that you discover by chance
The statue could be one of the finds of the century.
a real find:
Our new babysitter is a real find.
Synonyms and related words
Something or someone that is good or very good
masterpiece
inspiration
miracle

find

verb transitive

UK /faɪnd/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	find
he/she/it	finds
present participle	finding
past tense	found
past participle	found

1
to discover something, or to see where it is by searching for it
Police have found a weapon.
Illegal drugs were found in the singer’s luggage.
Have you found your shoes?
Synonyms and related words
To find out information
find out
read up on
hear of
1. 1a
  to discover something by chance
  Everyone dreams of finding a valuable old painting in the attic.
  I found a ten pound note on the pavement!
  Synonyms and related words
  To find out information
  find out
  read up on
  hear of
2. 1b
  to discover or notice something
  We arrived to find the house in darkness.
  find someone doing something:
  I found her wandering the streets in a complete daze.
  Synonyms and related words
  To find something or someone
  come across
  come on
  run across
3. 1c
  to discover a fact or piece of information
  We hope to find the answers to some of these questions.
  No explanation for this phenomenon has yet been found.
  Synonyms and related words
  To find out information
  find out
  read up on
  hear of
4. 1d
  to suddenly discover or realize something
  find (that):
  I put my hand into my pocket and found I’d left my keys at home.
  Synonyms and related words
  To understand something
  understand
  know
  work out
  Synonyms and related words
  To find out information
  find out
  read up on
  hear of
2
to get something
Have you found accommodation yet?
find work/employment/a job:
It is very difficult for young people in this area to find work.
Synonyms and related words
To get something or someone
get
come by
accept
3
to experience an emotion that you have not experienced in the past
He found happiness late in life with his second wife.
Doug finally found the courage to speak.
Synonyms and related words
To feel an emotion
feel
experience
give up to
1. 3a
  to experience something in a particular way
  find something difficult/frightening/relaxing etc:
  William now finds walking very difficult.
  find someone attractive/irritating etc:
  Men always found her extremely attractive.
  Synonyms and related words
  To experience something
  experience
  undergo
  encounter
4
to have something as an opinion because of things that you have noticed or experienced yourself
find (that):
I find that children need a lot of encouragement.
Synonyms and related words
To form an opinion, or to have an idea
measure
come up with
judge
5
to make a formal decision about something after listening to all the facts
find (that):
The court found that the company was in breach of its contract.
find someone guilty/not guilty:
He was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison.
find for someone/in someone’s favour (=decide that someone is right):
The industrial tribunal found in our favour.
find against someone (=decide that someone is wrong):
The court found against the plaintiff.
Synonyms and related words
To make a decision
decide
determine
arrive at
6
if you find the time or money to do something, you have enough time or money to do it
We’ve got to find an extra £200 by Friday.
I never seem to find the time to read these days.
Synonyms and related words
To find, or to have enough time for something
have
find
make (the) time

phrases

find its way

find your feet

find yourself somewhere

find your way

be found

phrasal verbs

find for

find out

find

verb transitive

US /faɪnd/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	find
he/she/it	finds
present participle	finding
past tense	found
past participle	found

1
to discover something, or to see where it is by searching for it
The police have found a weapon.
Illegal drugs were found in the singer’s luggage.
Did you find your shoes?
Synonyms and related words
To find out information
find out
read up on
discover
1. 1a
  to discover something by chance
  Everyone dreams of finding something valuable in the attic.
  I finally found that CD I’ve been looking for!
  Synonyms and related words
  To find out information
  find out
  read up on
  discover
2. 1b
  to discover or notice something
  We arrived to find the house in darkness.
  find someone doing something:
  I found her wandering the streets in a complete daze.
  Synonyms and related words
  To find something or someone
  come across
  come on
  run across
3. 1c
  to discover a fact or piece of information
  We hope to find the answers to some of these questions.
  No explanation for this phenomenon has yet been found.
  Synonyms and related words
  To find out information
  find out
  read up on
  discover
4. 1d
  to suddenly discover or realize something
  find (that):
  I put my hand into my pocket and found I’d left my keys at home.
  Synonyms and related words
  To understand something
  understand
  know
  work out
  Synonyms and related words
  To find out information
  find out
  read up on
  discover
2
to get something
Have you found a place to live yet?
find work/employment/a job:
It is very difficult for young people in this area to find work.
Synonyms and related words
To get something or someone
get
come by
accept
3
to experience an emotion that you have not experienced in the past
He found happiness late in life with his second wife.
Doug finally found the courage to speak.
Synonyms and related words
To feel an emotion
feel
experience
give up to
1. 3a
  to experience something in a particular way
  find something difficult/frightening/relaxing etc.:
  William now finds walking very difficult.
  find someone attractive/irritating etc.:
  Men always found her extremely attractive.
  Synonyms and related words
  To experience something
  experience
  undergo
  encounter
4
to have something as an opinion because of things that you have noticed or experienced yourself
find (that):
I find that children need a lot of encouragement.
Synonyms and related words
To form an opinion, or to have an idea
measure
come up with
judge
5
to make a formal decision about something after listening to all the facts
find (that):
The court found that the company was in breach of its contract.
find someone guilty/not guilty:
He was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison.
find for someone/in someone’s favor (=decide that someone is right):
After three hours of deliberation, the jury found in our favor.
find against someone (=decide that someone is wrong):
The court found against the plaintiff.
Synonyms and related words
To make a decision
decide
determine
arrive at
6
if you find the time or money to do something, you have enough time or money to do it
We have to find some extra money by Friday.
I never seem to find time to read these days.
Synonyms and related words
To find, or to have enough time for something
have
find
make (the) time

phrases

find its way

find your feet

find yourself somewhere

find your way

be found

phrasal verbs

find for

find out

find ​‌

find ​‌

find ​‌‌‌

find ​‌‌‌

find

find

find

find