find

¹find

verb \ˈfīnd\

found\ˈfau̇nd\find·ing

Definition of FIND

transitive verb

1

a : to come upon often accidentally : encounter b : to meet with (a particular reception) <hoped to find favor>

2

a : to come upon by searching or effort <must find a suitable person for the job> b : to discover by study or experiment <find an answer> c : to obtain by effort or management <find the time to study> d : attain, reach <the bullet found its mark>

3

a : to discover by the intellect or the feelings : experience <find much pleasure in your company> b : to perceive (oneself) to be in a certain place or condition c : to gain or regain the use or power of <trying to find his tongue> d : to bring (oneself) to a realization of one's powers or of one's proper sphere of activity <must help the student to find himself as an individual — N. M. Pusey>

4

a : provide, supply b : to furnish (room and board) especially as a condition of employment

5

: to determine and make a statement about <find a verdict> <found her guilty>

intransitive verb

: to determine a case judicially by a verdict <find for the defendant>

— find·able \ˈfīn-də-bəl\ adjective

— find fault

: to criticize unfavorably

Examples of FIND

1. He found a dollar on the ground.
2. The well diggers found a number of Native American artifacts.
3. After an hour of searching, I finally found my glasses.
4. We need to find a suitable person for the job.
5. She found the answer at last.
6. They claim to have found a more efficient way to run the business.
7. researchers trying to find a cure for cancer
8. You must find time to do it.
9. I found a way to pay for college without taking out any loans.
10. She found the courage to address the crowd.

Origin of FIND

Middle English, from Old English findan; akin to Old High German findan to find, Latin pont-, pons bridge, Greek pontos sea, Sanskrit patha way, course

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FIND

Synonyms: ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up

Antonyms: miss, overlook, pass over

Related Words: espy, sight, spot; look for, search (for or out), seek

Near Antonyms: lose, mislay, misplace, misset

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with FIND

bind, blind, grind, hind, kind, mind, rind, signed, spined, tined, wind, wynd