scrounge

verb

ˈskrau̇nj 

scrounged; scrounging

transitive verb

1

: steal, swipe

2

a

: to get as needed by or as if by foraging, scavenging, or borrowing

scrounging enough money for a bus ticket

b

: finagle, wheedle

—often used with up

intransitive verb

: to search about and turn up something needed from whatever source is available

also : to actively seek money, work, or sustenance from any available source

scrounger noun

Synonyms

• eke (out)
• scrape (up or together)
• squeeze
• wrest
• wring

Examples of scrounge in a Sentence

I managed to scrounge enough money for a bus ticket.

He's always scrounging off his friends instead of paying for things himself.

We scrounged around for firewood.

We managed to scrounge some firewood.

Recent Examples on the Web

One of this year’s discoverers of a blue-eyed bug is 4-year-old Jack Bailey of Wheaton, Illinois, who has been scrounging up cicadas in his family’s yard, according to a statement from the Field Museum in Chicago. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 May 2024

Much of the residential infrastructure has also been destroyed, and people in Gaza are being forced to scrounge framing materials from the rubble. —Hardin Lang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2024

First, scrounge up some pennies from your wallet and coin jar—the dirtier, the better! —Nicole Harris, Parents, 22 May 2024

Each other piece was a mad dash around town, a group effort for white button-downs and matching pants, scrounged up from Nordstroms and various thrift shops. —Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of English dialect scrunge to wander about idly

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

scrounge

verb

ˈskrau̇nj 

scrounged; scrounging

1

: to collect by or as if by rummaging

scrounge around for firewood

2

: to get by coaxing or persuading

scrounge a dollar from a friend

scrounger noun