rummage

verb rum·mage \ ˈrə-mij \

|Updated on: 20 Aug 2018

Examples: rummage in a Sentence

Definition of rummage

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

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rummager

noun

See rummage defined for English-language learners

See rummage defined for kids

Examples of rummage in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of rummage from the Web

Changing a diaper is nothing compared to rummaging through your endless black hole of a diaper bag, looking for the wipes, the diapers and, of course, the emergency onesie (because the poop never stops at diaper level).

— sarah schreiber, Good Housekeeping, "Parents Everywhere Are Obsessed With This Mom's Genius Diaper Bag Trick," 17 Apr. 2017
Drawers were rummaged through and a desk had been knocked over and repeatedly kicked.

— elliot hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Burglars pry open safe in New Berlin business," 5 June 2018
The attackers rummaged through the 25-year-old man's pockets and stole his cellphone and wallet that had $1,300 inside, according to police reports.

— adam ferrise, cleveland.com, "Video shows man being attacked outside Tequila Ranch in Cleveland's Warehouse District," 27 Apr. 2018
Tomlin demanded prescription drugs and rummaged through the house, deputies said.

— cameron knight, Cincinnati.com, "Sheriff: Man indicted in armed home invasion of grandparents," 29 Mar. 2018
Liang Jiong spends most of his life rummaging through other people’s trash.

— michael holtz, The Christian Science Monitor, "Beijing gets tough on trash," 5 July 2018
From Above Helicopters and drones hovered overhead searching for heat signatures and other signs of life, while police and soldiers rummaged through the jungle for chimneys that could provide an alternative entry point.

— Time, "A Youth Soccer Team Has Been Trapped in a Thai Cave for More Than a Week. Here's Why It's Taking So Long to Find Them," 2 July 2018
The glovebox and center console were rummaged through.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Davie, Cooper City area crime reports," 7 June 2018
Wickersham said Hackel's wife's vehicle also was rummaged through.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel's gun stolen from county SUV outside his home," 31 May 2018

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of rummage

²rummage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1582

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

rummage Synonyms

rummage

noun

Definition of rummage

1 a : a confused miscellaneous collection

b : items for sale at a rummage sale

2 : a thorough search especially among a confusion of objects

See rummage defined for English-language learners

Examples of rummage in a Sentence

a rummage of textbooks, notebooks, and old school papers all over the desk

Recent Examples of rummage from the Web

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.

— 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.

— 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.

— 'sam' boyer/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Young speakers impress the audience: Whit & Whimsey," 20 Apr. 2018
Today’s stores, all close to the Brooklyn apartment that Cumming, Faber and Kivlen once shared, are rummage-friendly.

— alice hines, New York Times, "How a Rising Rock Band Shops for Vintage," 29 Mar. 2018
Also lots of household rummage, books, crafting items and collectibles/treasures. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 4.

— cleveland.com, "Holiday sales and bazaars pop up for the 2017 season around Northeast Ohio," 26 Oct. 2017
Featuring local crafters, complimentary gift wrapping, holiday rummage, and items made by our own residents.

— cleveland.com, "Holiday sales and bazaars pop up for the 2017 season around Northeast Ohio," 26 Oct. 2017
Her novels—filled with vicars, church jumble (rummage) sales, cups of tea, narcissistic men, and anthropologists—are sometimes compared to those of Jane Austen for their delicate irony, but Pym was less sanguine about romantic love.

— laura miller, Slate Magazine, "A new book about the diets of notable women redeems the whole sentimental, self-indulgent genre of food writing.," 12 July 2017
Merrillville rummage sale Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church will hold its fifth annual Rummage Sale Friday through Sunday at the church, located at 8600 Grand Blvd. in Merrillville.

— Post-Tribune, "Community news," 23 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of rummage

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1598

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year