ferret out

phrasal verb

ferreted out; ferreting out; ferrets out
: to find (something, such as information) by careful searching
He's good at ferreting out the facts.

Examples of ferret out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This included investing in new high-speed production processes and ferreting out waste through the Lean Six Sigma method, a corporate philosophy where workers are encouraged to bring up problems. Brit Morse, Fortune, 6 July 2025 He’s been inside government, he’s ferreted out … all these examples of grotesque waste, fraud and abuse. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 4 June 2025 One of her students, Yuyang Chen, had been searching through a vast British database, known as the 100,000 Genomes Project, as part of her team’s effort to ferret out answers for people with undiagnosed conditions. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 Meanwhile, the Russells' butler, Mr. Church (Jack Gilpin), and his staff seek to ferret out a spy who’s been leaking details about the family’s private life to the press. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ferret out

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ferret out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferret%20out. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ferret out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!