Definition of find
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
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
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
: to determine a case judicially by a verdict
find for the defendant
find fault
: to criticize unfavorably
find
nounDefinition 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
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Who Knew?
-
- What is a ruelle?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share find
Time Traveler for find
The first known use of find was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century