Synonyms of rummaging

rummaging

verb

present participle of rummage

1

as in finding

to come upon after searching, study, or effort

at the last minute she rummaged a costume from the attic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• finding
• discovering
• learning
• locating
• getting
• detecting
• ascertaining
• determining
• hitting (on or upon)
• tracking (down)
• hunting (down or up)
• finding out
• running down
• digging out
• digging up
• scouting (up)
• descrying
• dredging (up)
• routing (out)
• ferreting (out)
• spotting
• turning up
• rooting (out)
• seeking
• nosing out
• scaring up
• espying
• sighting
• searching (for or out)
• looking for

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missing
• passing over
• overlooking
• losing
• misplacing
• mislaying
• missetting

2

as in searching

to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something

he rummaged the desk drawer trying to find the spare keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• searching
• combing
• scanning
• finding
• scouring
• surveying
• exploring
• raking
• examining
• investigating
• ransacking
• locating
• trolling
• dredging
• inspecting
• digging (through)
• hunting (through)
• rifling
• discovering
• sorting (through)
• reviewing
• scrutinizing
• detecting
• snooping
• ascertaining
• learning
• auditing
• checking (out)
• determining
• perusing
• probing
• frisking
• browsing
• studying
• hitting (on or upon)
• tracking (down)
• finding out
• running down
• getting
• prospecting
• poking (around)
• shaking down
• ferreting (out)
• descrying
• looking over
• glancing (over)
• patting down
• skirmishing
• grubbing (about)
• scaring up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hiding
• losing
• ignoring
• abandoning
• neglecting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rummaging

Madonna is, like Paul McCartney this year, animated by rummaging through her own vaults. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 July 2026

The internal zip pocket kept small valuables, such as my passport, Kindle, and lip balm, accessible without need for rummaging. — Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 July 2026

His parents were rummaging around upstairs somewhere. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 25 June 2026

The cross-stitch border gives this kilim rug the feel of an heirloom piece–without the effort of rummaging through an estate sale. — Briana Feigon, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2026

Videos went viral of bears rummaging through supermarket aisles and roaming school grounds, setting local communities on edge. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

The first Newton to appear in the series in Season 3 came courtesy of some rummaging through eBay, where Mengual found a few real Newtons still in good condition. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 June 2026

Ferrier saw Frost rummaging through his car and ran outside and into the middle of the street, charges say. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 1 June 2026

The young employee began rummaging through old storage boxes, looking for anything that could be relevant. — Matthew Campbell, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026