find out

verb

found out; finding out; finds out

transitive verb

1

: to learn by effort, study, observation, or search : discover

I need to find out where the meeting is being held.

2

a

: to catch in an offense (such as a crime)

The culprits were soon found out.

b

: to ascertain the true character or identity of

The informer was eventually found out.

intransitive verb

: to discover, learn, or verify something

I don't know, but I'll find out for you.

Synonyms of find out

• realize
• discover
• see
• learn
• hear

Examples of find out in a Sentence

that was around the time that I found out I was adopted

found out about the new restaurant by reading reviews online

Recent Examples on the Web

Gen storms downstairs after finding out that Luke sent Joy flowers, and Aesha follows. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026

The Athletic has spoken to dozens of sources inside English academies and at player agencies to find out what is happening in academy recruitment and why there has been such an upsurge in players moving between big clubs. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

No one had done this thorough a job to trace the legend’s origins and find out what is true and what is demonstrably false about it — and, more importantly, why the damn thing has outlasted nearly every other gossip item in the history of Hollywood. — Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

The two young economists, from Berkeley and Harvard, respectively, were assigned the task of finding out how much tax business owners pay. — John Lanchester, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for find out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

find out

verb

1

: to learn by study, observation, or search : discover

2

: to catch doing something bad

the culprit was found out