• enPR: fīnd, IPA: /faɪnd/

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.

• See also Thesaurus:deem

• lose

See also finding and found

• French: trouver
• German: finden
• Italian: trovare, scoprire, rinvenire, scovare, reperire
• Portuguese: achar, encontrar
• Russian: находи́ть
• Spanish: encontrar, hallar

• Italian: trovare, puntualizzare, evidenziare, sottolineare
• Portuguese: achar, encontrar
• Russian: выи́скивать

• French: trouver
• Portuguese: achar
• Russian: находи́ть
• Spanish: creer, encontrar

• Portuguese: determinar, julgar
• Russian: находи́ть
• Spanish: determinar, juzgar

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.

• (anything found) discovery, catch

• French: trouvaille
• German: Fund
• Italian: scoperta, chicca
• Portuguese: achado
• Russian: нахо́дка
• Spanish: hallazgo

• German: Finden
• Portuguese: encontro
• Russian: иска́ние