scrounge

verb

ˈskrau̇nj 

scrounged; scrounging

transitive verb

1

: steal, swipe

2

a

: to get as needed by or as if by foraging, scavenging, or borrowing

scrounging enough money for a bus ticket

b

: finagle, wheedle

—often used with up

intransitive verb

: to search about and turn up something needed from whatever source is available

also : to actively seek money, work, or sustenance from any available source

scrounger noun

Synonyms

• earn

Examples of scrounge in a Sentence

I managed to scrounge enough money for a bus ticket.

He's always scrounging off his friends instead of paying for things himself.

We scrounged around for firewood.

We managed to scrounge some firewood.

Recent Examples on the Web

The choices that Tahereh and her family are making — regarding how to scrounge for money and how to appeal to Hossein’s family for mercy — aren’t impacted anymore by what did or didn’t happen. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025

Drake’s team usually scrounged up the clues that later exonerated Mason’s clients. —Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 May 2025

Across a roughly three-week players’ strike, desperate franchises scrounged to the ends of the earth to find replacement athletes to break the picket line. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 May 2025

Visiting the contestants’ holding cell farmhouse, Gutfeld heads to the off-limits (for the cast) control room to try to scrounge up a bit more scratch. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of English dialect scrunge to wander about idly

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for scrounge

• lounge

Kids Definition

scrounge

verb

ˈskrau̇nj 

scrounged; scrounging

1

: to collect by or as if by rummaging

scrounge around for firewood

2

: to get by coaxing or persuading

scrounge a dollar from a friend

scrounger noun