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

• earn

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

It was reported that Costner, who had scrounged up some seed financing to start making his Horizon films, wanted to spend no more than a week on the Yellowstone set for the final episodes. —Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025

The ramifications were brutal for an offense that had been scrounging for explosive plays this season. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025

In the distance, pelicans hunt for breakfast in the water and seagulls scrounge for snacks in the sand. —Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025

Natron said in the statement that the layoff announcement came late because the company spent the summer scrounging up as many dollars as possible, hoping to avoid going under. —Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for scrounge

• lounge

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