browse

verb

\ ˈbrau̇z

browsed; browsing

Definition of browse

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a of an animal : to eat (tender shoots, twigs, leaves of trees and shrubs, etc.) : to consume as browse (see browse entry 2 sense 1) browsing thistles

b : graze

2 : to look over casually : skim browsing the want ads

3 computers : to access (a network) by means of a browser

intransitive verb

1a of an animal : to feed on or as if on tender shoots, twigs, and leaves of trees and shrubs : to feed on or as if on browse

b : graze cows browsing in the pasture

2a : to skim through a book reading passages that catch the eye

b : to look over or through an aggregate of things casually especially in search of something of interest browsing through the store's magazine section

browse

noun

Definition of browse (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : tender shoots, twigs, and leaves of trees and shrubs used by animals for food

2 : an act or instance of browsing a quick browse through the want ads

Other Words from browse Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about browse

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Synonyms for browse

Synonyms: Verb

forage, graze, pasture, rustle

Examples of browse in a Sentence

Verb

Several customers were browsing in the bookstore. He was browsing the want ads in the newspaper. cows browsing in the pasture

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

At the time, Vestager ordered Google to stop promoting its own search and browsing functions on smartphones and tablets running Google’s Android system. — Rachel Siegel, The Seattle Times, "Nike fined $14 million by European Union regulators over antitrust violation," 25 Mar. 2019 Imagine popping to the store to pick up your final ribbons, wrapping paper, and sprouts—only to find actual Kate Middleton browsing the novelty festive socks and Prince George checking out the slime offerings. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Kate Middleton Took Prince George and Princess Charlotte Christmas Shopping at a Bargain Store," 24 Dec. 2018 Google will allow the option to disable it, or only keep it on when connected to Wi-Fi, but the company appears convinced that Autoplay on Home is a better way to experience and browse YouTube on the move. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Google’s appearance before Congress will mark a turning point for its CEO," 5 Dec. 2018 Escape the blues by listening to the blues on Frenchman Street where cars make space for pedestrians to dance in the middle of the road, browse art galleries and flea markets. — Marissa Miller, Teen Vogue, "13 Dream Vacations to Add to Your Bucket List," 24 Oct. 2018 Felt stressed that actually enabling syncing required an additional step; merely signing in to the browser isn't enough to have your browsing history sent to the cloud, so nobody should find their private browsing data sent to Google accidentally. — Peter Bright, Ars Technica, "Google backtracks—a bit—on controversial Chrome sign-in feature," 27 Sep. 2018 According to Felt, signing in to sync requires an additional step, which then uploads your browsing history to Google devices. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Here's a way to help protect your browser from Google Chrome's latest privacy snafu," 24 Sep. 2018 Following the 2016 election, in which Russian trolls bought thousands of dollars worth of ads that reached millions of people, Facebook created a dashboard where users can browse through all political ads that appear on Facebook’s services. — Kurt Wagner, Recode, "Facebook has a plan to protect the U.S. midterms. Is it enough?," 17 Aug. 2018 According to NBC Bay Area, Moore was browsing the Macy’s on May 8 when a sales associate accused her of stealing a bottle of cologne. — Breanna Edwards, The Root, "#ShoppingWhileBlack: California Woman Accuses Macy’s of Racial Profiling After Being Accused of Stealing," 16 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Stars of the park include the big cats (bobcats, lynx, and cougar), roly-poly black bears, and moose that munch all manner of browse, unperturbed by squealing youngsters. — Patricia Harris And David Lyon, BostonGlobe.com, "Goin’ up the country: The rustic appeal of Maine’s Route 26," 21 June 2018 After a browse there, the art walk proceeds on to the Mexican Cultural Center and a reception inside the Mexican General Consulate building. — Brittany Martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "10 Fun, Free Things to Do in L.A. This May," 1 May 2018 In contrast, the surrounding hillside is dreamily serene: A modest herd of cattle browses in one field, clusters of tups (rams) and ewes with lambs in the others. — Kieran Dodds, Smithsonian, "Britain’s Lake District Was Immortalized by Beatrix Potter, But Is Its Future in Peril?," 20 Apr. 2018 Sip cocktails and nibble on party snacks as your browse and get inspired. — cleveland.com, "Say 'I Do' to these 18 Northeast Ohio wedding events in 2018," 9 Jan. 2018 The best option is to give them more of the winter foods they are already adapted to eating - winter browse. — Evan Macdonald, cleveland.com, "No one harmed in Christmas house fire in Broadview Heights," 25 Dec. 2017 Touchdown in Lathrop led me straight to Enchanted Frog for a nice relaxing browse through this mystical antique store. — kansascity, "Where the bridge forks: two roads to two very different winter day trips | The Kansas City Star," 13 Dec. 2017 In fact, the zoo gets much of its browse from a super-secret Honda test track outside of Columbus that’s surrounded by lush wetland vegetation. — Jason Bittel, Smithsonian, "When Disaster Strikes, the Zoo Must Go On," 11 Sep. 2017 Their first-ever permanent brick-and-mortar location is basically an IRL browse through Goop.com. — Sara Tardiff, ELLE Decor, "Goop Has Officially Opened Its First Permanent Shop And It's Every Lifestyle Blogger's Dream," 18 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'browse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for browse

Verb

Middle English brouusen, probably from Anglo-French brouts browse entry 2

Noun

probably modification of Anglo-French brouts, plural of brout sprout, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Saxon brustian to sprout, and perhaps to Old English brēost breast — more at breast

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