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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 In one, a dealer uploaded a video of himself rummaging through a duffel bag that was overstuffed with Dank Vapes cartridges.
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NBC News, "Armed guards, secret location: Inside an illegal marijuana bazaar publicized on Instagram," 17 Jan. 2020 The sheriff’s office released footage of the Tuesday burglary from the victim’s home surveillance cameras, which shows the suspect rummaging through the victim’s items while wearing work clothes.
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Cristóbal Reyes, orlandosentinel.com, "Suspect in Osceola burglary arrested in Orange County, deputies say," 9 Oct. 2019 In this case, Tel-Aviv University archaeologist Erez Ben-Yosef and his colleagues went rummaging through heaps of slag, the glassy waste discarded after smelters separate copper from its ore.
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Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Ancient slag offers insight into the uneven pace of technological advances," 20 Sep. 2019 The man without the gun rummaged through the woman’s purse and stole $40, police reports say.
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Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com, "Woman robbed at gunpoint in Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation, near site of unsolved double slaying," 2 Aug. 2019 While some of the suspects rummaged through the home, one of the suspects that was holding the family in the bathroom smacked the father in the face with a gun, police said.
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Jay R. Jordan, Houston Chronicle, "Father pistol-whipped during southeast Houston home invasion," 27 Dec. 2019 That’s why the team’s crusade to find salvageable young talent — all this roster rummaging — should be put on hyper-drive for the final month of the year.
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Omar Kelly, sun-sentinel.com, "Kelly: Dolphins need to be scouring the NFL for salvageable, usable talent | Commentary," 6 Dec. 2019 And the cans are easy to rummage through by people plucking out valuable recyclables, looking for other treasure or just in the mood to make a mess.
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Heather Knight, SFChronicle.com, "Toughest job in SF? Tenderloin garbagemen work late at night to clean filthiest streets," 7 Dec. 2019 While the sweet potatoes cook, take a moment to rummage around your kitchen for something to serve with them.
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Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, "How to Roast Sweet Potatoes That Are Charred on the Outside and Pudding-y in the Middle," 15 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Fallbrook Democratic Club receives Club of the Year Award," 20 June 2019 Good Shepherd's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1235 S. 100th St., West Allis, is hosting a neighborhood rummage from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 9.
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Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Get a job with the Wisconsin State Fair, get a deal at a rumage and party like a librarian," 28 May 2018 Former president and current member Marie Weber said socializing gave way to fundraising, especially through rummage and bake sales, Christmas house tours and by creating and selling local phone directories.
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Jim Stingl, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stingl: With membership dwindling, once-thriving Hales Corners Woman's Club is disbanding," 24 Apr. 2018 Important note: Last week's announcement failed to give a date for the Western Reserve Masonic Community's annual rummage and estate sale.
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'sam' Boyer/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Young speakers impress the audience: Whit & Whimsey," 20 Apr. 2018
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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More Definitions for rummage
rummage
verbEnglish 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
verbrum·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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