scavenge

verb

scav·​enge ˈska-vənj 

-vinj

scavenged; scavenging

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to remove (dirt, refuse, etc.) from an area

(2)

: to clean away dirt or refuse from : cleanse

scavenge a street

b

: to feed on (carrion or refuse)

2

a

: to remove (burned gases) from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine after a working stroke

b

: to remove (something, such as an undesirable constituent) from a substance or region by chemical or physical means

c

: to clean and purify (molten metal) by taking up foreign elements in chemical union

3

: to salvage from discarded or refuse material

also : to salvage usable material from

intransitive verb

: to work or act as a scavenger

Examples of scavenge in a Sentence

Rats scavenged in the trash.

The bears scavenged the woods for food.

He scavenged the town dump for automobile parts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Made from vintage tin signs scavenged from around Brooklyn, it's poetically anchored in the borough’s history, while also signaling the neighborhood’s future—just like the hotel itself. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026

As all 32 teams make cuts, front offices and personnel groups around the league scavenge the newly available pool of players for potential additions. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026

Once they are recovered, the remains are often sun-bleached, scavenged and without any recognizable features, Kaplan said. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Inside this gut pouch, tens of millions of bacteria scavenge for scraps of fiber, starch, and other nutrients, and break down cellulose and proteins. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from scavenger

First Known Use

circa 1644, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Kids Definition

scavenge

verb

scav·​enge ˈskav-ənj 

-inj

scavenged; scavenging

: to collect usable things from what has been discarded