find
Pronunciation Verb

find (finds, present participle finding; past found, past participle found)

  1. (transitive) To encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon.
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Ivlivs Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene i]:
      Searching the window for a flint, I found/This paper, thus sealed up.
    • In woods and forests thou art found.
  2. (transitive) To encounter or discover something being searched for; to locate.
    I found my car keys. They were under the couch.
  3. (ditransitive) To discover by study or experiment direct to an object or end.
    Water is found to be a compound substance.
  4. (transitive) To gain, as the object of desire or effort.
    to find leisure; to find means
  5. (transitive) To attain to; to arrive at; to acquire.
    Looks like he found a new vehicle for himself!
  6. (transitive) To point out.
    He kept finding faults with my work.
  7. (ditransitive) To decide that, to discover that, to form the opinion that.
    I find your argument unsatisfactory.
    • c. 1590–1592, William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene i]:
      I find you passing gentle.
    • The torrid zone is now found habitable.
  8. (transitive) To arrive at, as a conclusion; to determine as true; to establish.
    to find a verdict; to find a true bill (of indictment) against an accused person
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene ii]:
      to find his title with some shows of truth
  9. (transitive, archaic) To supply; to furnish.
    to find food for workmen
  10. (transitive, archaic) To provide for
    He finds his nephew in money.
    • Wages £14 and all found.
    • Nothing a day and find yourself.
  11. (intransitive, legal) To determine or judge.
    The jury finds for the defendant.
  12. (intransitive, hunting) To discover game.
    • 1945, Nancy Mitford, The Pursuit of Love, Penguin 2010, page 57:
      They found at once, and there was a short sharp run, during which Linda and Tony, both in a somewhat showing-off mood, rode side by side over the stone walls.
Synonyms Antonyms Related terms

See also finding and found

Translations Translations Translations Translations Noun

find (plural finds)

  1. Anything that is found (usually valuable), as objects on an archeological site or a person with talent.
  2. The act of finding.
Synonyms Translations Translations


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