scavenges; scavenged; scavenging
1
of an animal
: to search for food to eat
Rats scavenged in the trash.
—often + forThe bears scavenged for food in the woods.
The bears scavenged the woods for food.
2
: to search through waste, junk, etc., for something that can be saved or used
—often + for
They scavenged for antiques at the flea market.
He scavenged the town dump for automobile parts.
Cite this Entry
“Scavenge.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/scavenge. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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