find
/fʌɪnd
/verb (past and past participle found /faʊnd/) [with object]
1Discover or perceive by chance or unexpectedly: Lindsey looked up to find Niall watching her the remains of a headless body had been found...
- The chances of finding the Thai Millennium coins in your change are very small.
- How would you rate the chances of finding something good to eat at 6pm on a Sunday in a small village?
- Detectives said that the body had been found in plastic bags which had been wrapped in a quilt cover.
Synonyms
discover, become aware, realize, observe, notice, note, perceive, learn, detect
1.1Discover after a deliberate search: I can’t find my keys the sailor and his crew were found safe and well last night...
- They said it was a drug search, but they found nothing and damaged everything.
- Each answer can be found by searching on the Web, or digging deep in your mind.
- Adams immediately telephoned the police but when officers searched the area they found nothing.
Synonyms
locate, spot, pinpoint, unearth, obtain, detect, put one's finger on;
search out, nose out, track down, dig up, hunt out, root out, sniff out, smell out;
come across, chance on, light on, happen on, stumble on, hit on, encounter, run across, run into, come upon
informal bump into
literary espy, descry
retrieve, recover, get back, regain, repossess, recoup, recuperate, reclaim
1.2 (find oneself) Discover oneself to be in a particular situation: phobia sufferers often find themselves virtual prisoners in their own home...
- Mum Julie says that if her daughter had known where to go for advice she might not have found herself in this situation.
- I find myself very much in agreement with the underlying principles of the bill.
- At age 14, she found herself a national and international heroine, and graced the covers of Sports Illustrated and Newsweek Magazine.
1.3Succeed in obtaining (something): he’s still struggling to find the money for the trip...
- The second quarter drew a total blank on the scoreboard as neither side succeeded in finding the range against tight marking defenders.
- One way for young writers to succeed is to find new angles and ways to treat the same theme.
- Those who do not expect to succeed can always find an excuse to cover their faults.
Synonyms
obtain, acquire, get, procure, come by, secure, gain, earn, achieve, attain, lay hold of, come to have, win
informal bag, wangle, swing, land, get one's hands/mitts on, get hold of
1.4Summon up (a quality, especially courage) with an effort: I found the courage to speak...
- When eventually the necessary courage can be found, the car's ready to respond.
- He finds just enough courage to annoy Billy Jack and get his throat crushed in an awesome display of Billy Jack's prowess in the martial arts.
- Becoming motivated to overcome the fears of change allows you to find the courage to succeed.
Synonyms
summon (up), gather, muster (up), screw up, command, call up, rally
1.5 [no object] (Of hunters or hounds) discover game, especially a fox: Lady Montego heard the new halloo—they had found...
- This means that when some hounds are dragging or have found, the rest either never get to them or run in straggled batches.
- Hounds moved off to draw Pinner Wood, where they found and went away across Hallows Farm, down Mapley and ran swiftly to Lannersmead, where he went to ground.
- Hounds soon found at Red Deer Plantation.
2Identify (something) as being present: vitamin B12 is found in dairy products a rare species found only in the Italian Alps...
- Also, the high placebo response rate made finding a statistical difference almost impossible.
- However, geochronological evidence for such processes has not been found yet.
- This bird can be found all across Canada.
Synonyms
be present, occur, exist, be met with, be existent, appear, show itself, manifest itself, be
rare obtain
2.1Discover or experience to be the case: [with object and infinitive]: the majority of staff find the magazine to be informative and useful [with clause]: she found that none of the local nursery schools had an available slot...
- It was a great surprise to buy a copy by chance and find the Evening Press is now lively and informative.
- When James I succeeded Elizabeth, he found his new kingdom at war with Spain in support of the Dutch.
- Well, we find also that air quality has an impact on the size of the raindrops.
2.2Ascertain by study, calculation, or inquiry: the class are encouraged to find their own solutions to problems...
- In addition, oestrogen has been found to improve quality of life in the short term.
- The researchers found a solution that is not seen every day.
- Researchers found a simple solution that can double the shelf life of proteas and can especially benefit the export market.
Synonyms
discover, think of, invent, come up with, hit on, turn up, bring to light, uncover, unearth, ferret out
2.3 (find oneself) Discover the fundamental truths about one’s own character and identity.I didn't need a semester abroad to meet new people and ‘find myself.’...
- In the time shortly after her revelation she not only ‘found herself’ she also found out who her true friends were.
2.4 [with object and complement] Experience or regard (something) in a specified way: both men found it difficult to put ideas into words...
- People find it very amusing to make fun of his stupidity.
- I still couldn't come to grips with him being so different, but I found his differences interesting.
- Within hours of joining, she found the job easy and decided to attend work daily.
Synonyms
consider, think, believe to be, hold to be, feel to be, look on as, view as, see as, take to be, take for, judge, deem, gauge, rate, regard as, reckon, suppose, account, interpret as, esteem
2.5 Law (Of a court) officially declare to be the case: [with object and complement]: he was found guilty of speeding [with clause]: the court found that a police lab expert had fabricated evidence...
- This section applies if a court finds an adult guilty of an indictable offence.
- He denied the rape when he appeared at Luton Crown Court but was found guilty and sentenced to seven years on Monday.
- The jury at Glasgow High Court found him not guilty of two other charges of abusing a third boy and a young girl.
Synonyms
judge, adjudge, adjudicate, deem, rule, hold, consider, count, rate, reckon, see as;
declare, determine, pronounce
3Reach or arrive at by a natural or normal process: water finds its own level...
- These features of American and English lyrics have also found their way into German rock.
- Like water it finds the broad and easy path, the lowest point.
- Like love, friendship finds its own natural level, I think.
3.1 (find one's way) Reach one’s destination, typically without first knowing how to get there: she’ll never find her way to the house on her own...
- Me and Chris wandered aimlessly, found our way to Claire's house, went in while they were out, and ate their food.
- We wandered around downtown and found our way to the red-light district.
- So, taking the few things he could call his own, he found his way to a traveling circus that would have him.
3.2(Of a letter) reach (someone).I'd love to contact this girl because she was really sweet and I hope this letter will find her....
- I hope this letter finds you exceptionally fine.
- I hope that this letter finds you in good spirits.
noun
1A discovery of something valuable, typically something of archaeological interest: he made his most spectacular finds in the Valley of the Kings...
- For the creationist, the new fossil find is no problem at all.
- Valuable finds can turn up in the most unlikely of places.
- Art expert Shirley Graham at Leeds City Art Gallery said the cache was a valuable find.
Synonyms
discovery, acquisition, asset;
unearthing, uncovering
good buy, bargain;
godsend, boon, windfall
1.1A person who is discovered to be useful or interesting in some way: Ted had turned out to be a real find...
- Musa Smith and Onterrio Smith intrigue more than a few teams and could end up being the real finds in this year's crop.
- But the real acting finds here are Jonathan Jackson and Katharine Isabelle.
- Rookie of the year Evgeni Nabokov, 26, was a real find.
1.2 Hunting The finding of a fox.
Phrases
all found
find fault
find favour
find one's feet
find God
find in favour of
find it in one's heart to do something
Phrasal verbs
find against
find for (or find in favour of)
find someone out
find something out (or find out about something)
Derivatives
findable
/ adjective ...- The newspapers have been full of articles about every findable detail about what might have gone wrong, and what was really happening in the last six months.
- In an age where everything is searchable and findable, some news organizations have chosen to make their archives available only to paying customers.
- One way or another, he's findable and he's out there.
Origin
Old English findan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vinden and German finden.