rummaged; rummaging
1
: to make a thorough search or investigation
2
: to engage in an undirected or haphazard search
1
: to make a thorough search through : ransack
rummaged the attic
2
: to examine minutely and completely
3
: to discover by searching
rummager
noun
1
a
: a confused miscellaneous collection
b
: items for sale at a rummage sale
2
: a thorough search especially among a confusion of objects
Synonyms
Verb
- ascertain
- descry
- detect
- determine
- dig out
- dig up
- discover
- dredge (up)
- ferret (out)
- find
- find out
- get
- hit (on or upon)
- hunt (down or up)
- learn
- locate
- nose out
- root (out)
- rout (out)
- run down
- scare up
- scout (up)
- track (down)
- turn up
Noun
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jambalaya
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- tumble
- variety
- welter
Examples of rummage in a Sentence
Verb
He rummaged through the attic for his baseball card collection.
He rummaged in his pocket for the receipt.
I heard you rummaging around in the refrigerator.
Noun
a rummage of textbooks, notebooks, and old school papers all over the desk
Recent Examples on the Web
Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024
An unlocked vehicle was rummaged through overnight, and two pair of sunglasses were taken.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Children desperately rummage through garbage, searching for scraps of food.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
The caller noticed computers and objects in the office were rummaged through overnight, but nothing was taken.
STOLEN VEHICLE: 8:34 a.m. on Cypress Way.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
The post, which is at a California Trader Joe’s store, shows customers quickly rummaging through a pile of the mini totes.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024
The conifer was the one that led Dr. Dalling to rummage through the brush in the first place.
—Douglas Main, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024
Sherman works alone, in a Tribeca studio or in a converted barn on her property in East Hampton, which are now chockablock with wigs, costumes, props, and prostheses, accreted over years of rummaging.
—Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2024
There’s a lipstick loop, a key leash (no more wasting time rummaging around on your doorstep), an RFID-blocking compartment for your wallet, and multiple zippered and quick-access interior pockets.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 12 Dec. 2023
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024
Xavieran Mission Festival: Live music, dinner specials, rummage and bake sale, 3-11 p.m. June 24; noon-7 p.m. June 25.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 1 June 2023
The only products not allowed are antiques and rummage.
—Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Fortunately, the truly hip will seek out the open source version of rummage-sale garb that makes the label-hungry crowd look gauche.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 30 Sep. 2022
Verb
Imran and Riyad pointed to relatives enduring warrantless raids by the Israel Defense Force, their belongings confiscated or damaged as soldiers rummaged through their homes.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024
An unlocked vehicle was rummaged through overnight, and two pair of sunglasses were taken.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Children desperately rummage through garbage, searching for scraps of food.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
The caller noticed computers and objects in the office were rummaged through overnight, but nothing was taken.
STOLEN VEHICLE: 8:34 a.m. on Cypress Way.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
The post, which is at a California Trader Joe’s store, shows customers quickly rummaging through a pile of the mini totes.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024
The conifer was the one that led Dr. Dalling to rummage through the brush in the first place.
—Douglas Main, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024
Sherman works alone, in a Tribeca studio or in a converted barn on her property in East Hampton, which are now chockablock with wigs, costumes, props, and prostheses, accreted over years of rummaging.
—Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2024
There’s a lipstick loop, a key leash (no more wasting time rummaging around on your doorstep), an RFID-blocking compartment for your wallet, and multiple zippered and quick-access interior pockets.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 12 Dec. 2023
Noun
The 30+ city jaunt kicks off June 26 in Orlando and rummages around the U.S. until August 31 in Houston.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024
Xavieran Mission Festival: Live music, dinner specials, rummage and bake sale, 3-11 p.m. June 24; noon-7 p.m. June 25.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 1 June 2023
The only products not allowed are antiques and rummage.
—Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Fortunately, the truly hip will seek out the open source version of rummage-sale garb that makes the label-hungry crowd look gauche.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 30 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rummage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rummage
Cite this Entry
“Rummage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rummage. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rummage
1 of 2 verb
rum·mage
ˈrəm-ij 
rummaged; rummaging
: to make an active search especially by moving, turning, or looking through the contents of a place or container
rummaging through the attic
rummage
2 of 2 noun
: a confused miscellaneous collection of articles
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