rummage

1 of 2

verb

rum·​mage ˈrə-mij How to pronounce rummage (audio)
rummaged; rummaging

intransitive verb

1
: to make a thorough search or investigation
2
: to engage in an undirected or haphazard search

transitive verb

1
: to make a thorough search through : ransack
rummaged the attic
2
: to examine minutely and completely
3
: to discover by searching
rummager noun

rummage

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a confused miscellaneous collection
b
: items for sale at a rummage sale
2
: a thorough search especially among a confusion of objects

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
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
In another clip, Moss, who was a freshman at the time, is shown with others rummaging through what appears to be his roommate’s closet. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024 Prosecutors showed him a video depicting a man rummaging through the garbage at the grocery store where Hallie Biden threw away Hunter Biden’s gun. Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
Noun
Dion, now 56, rummages through the items while highlighting key moments in her career. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024 Michonne rummages and finds the handwritten dossier hidden inside a metal cat statue (see below). Leah Marilla Thomas, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rummage 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rummage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

obsolete English romage act of stowing cargo, modification of Middle French arrimage, from arrimer to stow, from a- (from Latin ad-) + -rimer, from Middle English rimen to open up, make room for, from Old English rȳman — more at ream

First Known Use

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rummage was in 1582

Dictionary Entries Near rummage

Cite this Entry

“Rummage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rummage. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

rummage

1 of 2 verb
rum·​mage ˈrəm-ij How to pronounce rummage (audio)
rummaged; rummaging
: to make an active search especially by moving, turning, or looking through the contents of a place or container
rummaging through the attic

rummage

2 of 2 noun
: a confused miscellaneous collection of articles

More from Merriam-Webster on rummage

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!