browse

1 of 2

verb

ˈbrau̇z 

browsed; browsing

transitive verb

1

a

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

1

a

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

2

a

: 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

browsable

ˈbrau̇-zə-bəl 

adjective

browse

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of browse

Verb

• peek
• glance

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

Afterward, guests were invited to browse collaborative capsule collections, savor cocktails, and engage in listening experiences presented through the partnership between Mercedes and Dolby Laboratories. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 24 July 2026

In practice, that looks like pop-up cafés inside clothing stores, product launches staged as fan events and beauty floors designed as much for TikTok as for browsing. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026

Noun

Expect other big-box retailers with long browse times — home goods, sporting goods, warehouse clubs — to test similar rooms, particularly ones tied to a membership tier. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

Students would search, browse, compare and leave signals along the way, and even anonymous traffic provided some indication of interest. — Aaron Edgell, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for browse

• boughs
• bows
• brows
• cows
• dhows
• howes
• mows
• ploughs
• plows
• prows
• scows
• thous

Kids Definition

browse

1 of 2 verb

ˈbrau̇z 

browsed; browsing

1

: to nibble or feed on leaves and shoots

2

: to read or look over something in a light or careless way

browse

2 of 2 noun

1

: tender shoots and leaves used by animals for food

2

: an act or instance of browsing