rum·mage
| \ ˈrə-mij
\
\
rummaged; rummaging
Definition of rummage
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to make a thorough search or investigation
2
: to engage in an undirected or haphazard search
1
: to make a thorough search through : ransack
rummaged the attic
2
: to examine minutely and completely
3
: to discover by searching
rummage
nounDefinition of rummage (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: a confused miscellaneous collection
b
: items for sale at a rummage sale
2
: a thorough search especially among a confusion of objects
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Synonyms & Antonyms for rummage
Synonyms: Verb
- ascertain,
- descry,
- detect,
- determine,
- dig out,
- dig up,
- discover,
- dredge (up),
- ferret (out),
- find,
- find out,
- get,
- hit (on or upon),
- hunt (down or up),
- learn,
- locate,
- nose out,
- root (out),
- rout (out),
- run down,
- scare up,
- scout (up),
- track (down),
- turn up
Synonyms: Noun
- agglomerate,
- agglomeration,
- alphabet soup,
- assortment,
- botch,
- clutter,
- collage,
- crazy quilt,
- farrago,
- gallimaufry,
- grab bag,
- gumbo,
- hash,
- hodgepodge,
- hotchpotch,
- jambalaya,
- jumble,
- jungle,
- litter,
- macédoine,
- medley,
- mélange,
- menagerie,
- miscellanea,
- miscellany,
- mishmash,
- mixed bag,
- montage,
- motley,
- muddle,
- olio,
- olla podrida,
- omnium-gatherum,
- pastiche,
- patchwork,
- patchwork quilt,
- potpourri,
- ragbag,
- ragout,
- salad,
- salmagundi,
- scramble,
- shuffle,
- smorgasbord,
- stew,
- tumble,
- variety,
- welter
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of rummage in a Sentence
Verb
He rummaged through the attic for his baseball card collection.
He rummaged in his pocket for the receipt.
I heard you rummaging around in the refrigerator.
Noun
a rummage of textbooks, notebooks, and old school papers all over the desk
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Now, there will be no need to rummage through several belts just to find one.
—
Diego Pineda, USA TODAY, "14 genius things you need to organize your closet," 19 Feb. 2021
The Barr Bros may be with us for a long time, particularly in the absence of any meaningful effort to rummage through the wreckage of the last four years.
—
Ankush Khardori, The New Republic, "Flight of the Barr Bros," 22 Dec. 2020
These children, from 6 to 14 years old, have been sent by their parents to rummage through garbage dumps littered with broken glass and concrete shards in search of recyclable plastic.
—
Suhasini Raj, New York Times, "As Covid-19 Closes Schools, the World’s Children Go to Work," 27 Sep. 2020
Barber, who played the Tanner family's rebellious neighbor and DJ's BFF Kimmy Gibbler, rummaged through her refrigerator, only to find an empty carton of eggs.
—
Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, "Coronavirus: 'Full House' cast reunites for quarantine spoof of show's iconic theme song," 9 Apr. 2020
Police had been called to a parking lot at 3153 Quantum Lakes Drive, west of Interstate 95, at about 3:19 a.m. because two young men had been spotted pulling on car door handles and at least two vehicles had been rummaged through, Slater said.
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Tonya Alanez, sun-sentinel.com, "Car burglary suspect runs from police and drowns in pond," 23 Aug. 2019
At the same time, our modern cities are getting larger and larger, gobbling up wild spaces, and putting us in greater contact with wildlife: from brown bears in the suburbs to packs of wild boars rummaging through trash bins for a snack.
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Fortune, "Forget ‘wet markets’ and bats: For scientists, failing environmental policies have created a boom time for outbreaks," 22 Apr. 2020
The resident reported someone rummaged through an unlocked car parked in the driveway.
—
Bruce Geiselman, cleveland, "Juveniles arrested after armed robberies: Westlake Police Blotter," 14 Mar. 2020
Courts and prisons have coped with cuts thanks to falling prosecution rates
COPS SPEND much of their time driving around on routine patrols or rummaging through files at the nick.
—
The Economist, "What’s going wrong here? Britain’s 20,000 new cops won’t get the justice ministry celebrating," 18 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Chavez, 33, stood in the backyard on Wednesday morning watching his three dogs and a potbellied pig rummage in the snow.
—
Maria Jimenez Moya, Star Tribune, "Desperate for light and warmth, Texans see no end for winter storm," 18 Feb. 2021
Garage, rummage and yard sales can allow the lesser of the three: 50% of the total occupancy, one person for every 30 square feet or 250 people.
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Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "City of Milwaukee set to loosen restrictions on bars and restaurants, allowing 50% capacity," 26 June 2020
Her daughter just left for college and her apartment seems to have turned into one of those rummage shops that mostly sell Disney collectible glasses.
—
Jodi Walker, EW.com, "The Real Housewives of New York City," 3 Apr. 2020
Holy Apostles: Family Festival with rides and games, crafts and rummage, bake sale and bingo, 3:30-10:30 p.m. June 21; 12:30-10:30 p.m. June 22; 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. June 23.
—
Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "What's going on in Milwaukee this week: June 21-27," 20 June 2019
Check out the church's website, or contact the church by calling and ask to be directed to the rummage department.
—
chicagotribune.com, "Calendar: Family friendly comedy featured Saturday in Libertyville," 24 Sep. 2019
The sign was still sitting in the garage but was off to the side, away from the rummage merchandise that was for sale.
—
Joe Taschler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Magnet fishing is a slimy new hobby where people pull guns, bikes and weird stuff out of Milwaukee-area rivers, lakes and lagoons," 25 June 2019
Already the schedule suggests a slightly frantic rummage deep in her closet.
—
Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, "Can Modern Dance Be Preserved?," 24 June 2019
VALLEY CENTER Garden club holds rummage, plant sale The Garden Treasures Rummage & Summer Blowout Plant Sale will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Martin Gang Ranch, 28933 Cole Grade Road.
—
San Diego Union-Tribune, "Fallbrook Democratic Club receives Club of the Year Award," 20 June 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rummage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Last Updated
1 Mar 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Rummage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rummage. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.
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More Definitions for rummage
rummage
verb
English Language Learners Definition of rummage
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to search for something especially by moving and looking through the contents of a place
rummage
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of rummage (Entry 2 of 2)
chiefly British
: the act of looking for something among a group of things
See the full definition for rummage in the English Language Learners Dictionary
rummage
verb
rum·mage
| \ ˈrə-mij
\
\
rummaged; rummaging
Kids Definition of rummage
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to search especially by moving and looking through the contents of a place or container
… Henry and his father rummaged through the basement until they found a gallon jar …— Beverly Cleary, Henry Huggins
rummage
nounKids Definition of rummage (Entry 2 of 2)
: a mixed up collection of different articles
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Time Traveler for rummage
The first known use of rummage was in 1582
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