find

verb

Save Word

\ ˈfīnd

found\ ˈfau̇nd

\; finding

Definition of find

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to come upon often accidentally : encounter found a $10 bill on the ground

b : to meet with (a particular reception) hoped to find favor

2a : to come upon by searching or effort must find a suitable person for the job

b : to discover by study or experiment find an answer

c : to obtain by effort or management find the time to study

d : attain, reach the bullet found its mark

3a : to discover by the intellect or the feelings : experience find much pleasure in your company

b : to perceive (oneself) to be in a certain place or condition found himself in prison awaiting deportation found himself on the verge of bankruptcy

c : to gain or regain the use or power of trying to find his tongue

d : to bring (oneself) to a realization of one's powers or of one's proper sphere of activity must help the student to find himself as an individual— N. M. Pusey

4a : provide, supply

b : to furnish (room and board) especially as a condition of employment he was chopping by day's work—75 cents a day—and found himself— Herman Melville

5 : to determine and make a statement about find a verdict found her guilty

intransitive verb

: to determine a case judicially by a verdict find for the defendant

find fault

: to criticize unfavorably

find

noun

Definition of find (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an act or instance of finding

2 : something found: such as

a : a valuable discovery an archaeological find

b : a person whose ability proves to be unexpectedly good

Other Words from find Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing find Learn More About find

Examples of find in a Sentence

Verb He found a dollar on the ground. The well diggers found a number of Native American artifacts. After an hour of searching, I finally found my glasses. We need to find a suitable person for the job. She found the answer at last. They claim to have found a more efficient way to run the business. researchers trying to find a cure for cancer You must find time to do it. I found a way to pay for college without taking out any loans. She found the courage to address the crowd. Noun That antique she bought at the flea market was a real find. That new secretary of yours is a real find! See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb As more tablets find their way into the workplace, mobile support becomes a must-have for more enterprise tools. — Alex Kalinovsky, Forbes, 17 May 2022 The need to find someone to create offense when Paul and Devin Booker are having off nights. — Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 17 May 2022 To find the bedding and sleep products that are actually worth it, the home experts at Good Housekeeping and the textiles pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluated hundreds of bedding items in the GH Lab. — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 17 May 2022 Parents across the country have been struggling to find infant formula because of a shortage sparked by supply chain issues and exacerbated by a recall of formulas made at an Abbott Laboratories plant in Michigan. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2022 But reading, listening to, or reciting a prayer for peace can be one way to find clarity in the moment and strength for the future. — Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 17 May 2022 Salt & Hops aims to collect hard-to-find beers and other beverages in one place. — Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 May 2022 Members of Congress seek counsel: Some representatives on both sides of the aisle have taken to attending therapy sessions to find common ground. — Amy Nakamura, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022 These 7-10 hour shows manage to find that happy medium between televisions and film—and tend to capture a magic neither can reach on their own. — Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 17 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun An article published by the New York Times Wednesday documented how a group of friends in Brooklyn created a dating competition inspired by ABC's The Bachelor in order to help one 30-year-old find a girlfriend. — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022 Now, a new exhibition in England shines a light on the Egyptian workers who made the find possible—most of whom were left out of the historical record. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2022 Workmen found several skeletons near the surface, but the most significant archeological find was deeper down. — Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 8 May 2022 Returning to the familiar sounds of her childhood helped the 25-year-old find healing. — Thania Garcia, Variety, 5 May 2022 Lookout app can help people identify food labels, as well as find objects in a room. — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 4 May 2022 Other highlights of the condo include a storage bed — a Design Within Reach find that helps to maximize square footage. — Monique Valeris, Good Housekeeping, 2 May 2022 But the most exciting find associated with these fossils is the largest ichthyosaur tooth ever found. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 28 Apr. 2022 Felicity Cobbing, the chief curator at the Palestine Exploration Fund in London, which funds archaeological and historical research in Palestine, said the find could represent a new path for the Hamas authorities. — NBC News, 27 Apr. 2022 See More

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

Learn More About find

Dictionary Entries Near find

fin colter

find

find acceptance

Statistics for find

Last Updated

20 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Find.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/find. Accessed 25 May. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for find

find

verb

\ ˈfīnd

found\ ˈfau̇nd \; finding

Kids Definition of find

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to come upon by chance He found a dime.

2 : to come upon or get by searching, study, or effort She finally found the answer. I found some free time.

3 : to make a decision about The jury found her guilty.

4 : to know by experience I find this Web site useful.

5 : to gain or regain the use of I found my voice again.

6 : to become aware of being in a place, condition, or activity Omri found himself wondering … where his magnifying glass was.— Lynne Reid Banks, The Indian in the Cupboard

find fault

: to criticize in an unfavorable way

find out

: to learn by studying, watching, or searching I found out the secret.

find

noun

Kids Definition of find (Entry 2 of 2)

: a usually valuable item or person found

find

verb

found; finding