scavenge

verb

scav·​enge ˈska-vənj 

-vinj

scavenged; scavenging

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to remove (dirt, refuse, etc.) from an area

(2)

: to clean away dirt or refuse from : cleanse

scavenge a street

b

: to feed on (carrion or refuse)

2

a

: to remove (burned gases) from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine after a working stroke

b

: to remove (something, such as an undesirable constituent) from a substance or region by chemical or physical means

c

: to clean and purify (molten metal) by taking up foreign elements in chemical union

3

: to salvage from discarded or refuse material

also : to salvage usable material from

intransitive verb

: to work or act as a scavenger

Examples of scavenge in a Sentence

Rats scavenged in the trash.

The bears scavenged the woods for food.

He scavenged the town dump for automobile parts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most resort to begging, performing on the streets, doing manual labor for low pay, scavenging for scraps, or selling drugs. — Anne Pinto-Rodrigues, Christian Science Monitor, 20 July 2026

Then my father had to go out and make a living, scavenging on the streets to bring food home. — Juan Claudio Matossian, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026

Securely cover all garbage cans so wild animals cannot scavenge for food. — Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 16 July 2026

The study does not distinguish between cattle killed by wolves and those scavenged after dying from other causes. — Scott Lebar. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from scavenger

First Known Use

circa 1644, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Kids Definition

scavenge

verb

scav·​enge ˈskav-ənj 

-inj

scavenged; scavenging

: to collect usable things from what has been discarded