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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rummaging
Inicat Leather Crossbody Bag, $16 with Prime Airports can feel chaotic, and so can rummaging through your bag to find your wallet, ID, and cash.
—
Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
At this point the franchise’s decision makers might need to start exploring free agent options, and rummaging through the waiver wire to fortify this unit because depth, and the experience level of the cornerback unit, remains a major concern heading into the regular season.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Throughout, her signature dusky vocal leads listeners through a complex tapestry of sounds, rummaging through styles and genres, without ever abandoning her musical core.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
He's known to sneak off to the recycling bin on the regular, rummaging through the recyclables to find his favorite brew.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Scott and Keely Wooster are familiar – maybe too familiar – with a couple non-hibernating black bears that regularly visit their home in the hills northwest of Redding, California, rummaging through the trash cans and raiding their pets' food dishes.
—Damon Arthur, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Stock Up Keeping all the essentials out in the open can help guests avoid rummaging through the cabinets and closets looking for items like a bath towel or tissues.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024
No more rummaging through your bag to find that one ring or back of an earring!
—Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024
Hours later, Tavares showed up to a Suisun City home where the woman and another local artist were hanging out, and began rummaging around the home in search of a pistol.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024
Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
At this point the franchise’s decision makers might need to start exploring free agent options, and rummaging through the waiver wire to fortify this unit because depth, and the experience level of the cornerback unit, remains a major concern heading into the regular season.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Throughout, her signature dusky vocal leads listeners through a complex tapestry of sounds, rummaging through styles and genres, without ever abandoning her musical core.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
He's known to sneak off to the recycling bin on the regular, rummaging through the recyclables to find his favorite brew.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Scott and Keely Wooster are familiar – maybe too familiar – with a couple non-hibernating black bears that regularly visit their home in the hills northwest of Redding, California, rummaging through the trash cans and raiding their pets' food dishes.
—Damon Arthur, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Stock Up Keeping all the essentials out in the open can help guests avoid rummaging through the cabinets and closets looking for items like a bath towel or tissues.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024
No more rummaging through your bag to find that one ring or back of an earring!
—Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024
Hours later, Tavares showed up to a Suisun City home where the woman and another local artist were hanging out, and began rummaging around the home in search of a pistol.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rummaging
Verb
-
Partner can double with hearts, thus finding an eight-card fit whenever possible.—
Deb Harvell,
Arkansas Online,
19 Oct. 2025
-
So many of McAnally’s song ideas have been mined from his knack for finding stories in everyday life.—
Nancy Kruh,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Many common airfare booking hacks, like searching on a Tuesday or using incognito mode, are myths according to travel experts.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Police are searching for a 24-year-old man who allegedly fired into a restaurant, injuring two teenagers.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Health inspectors cited the soul food restaurant after discovering that the kitchen handwashing sink was blocked with multiple plastic buckets in the sink basin.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Levy was cast by Mark Bennett, arguably best known for discovering Amy Adams via 2005’s Junebug.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the end, Krantz added, adopting a more strategic approach ultimately benefits customers, allowing companies to use their time and money more effectively by learning from the successes of others.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Link’s flight simulators supercharging our pilot training with adaptive decision-making under pressure; medical residents refining teamwork and communication in simulated trauma bays; managers learning leadership through live project crises with shifting constraints and incomplete information.—
Joe Boylan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Wichita Police Department is now asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating the female and anybody that recognizes her or might have any information about her identity or whereabouts should reach out to the Wichita Police Department immediately.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The data revealed canines have an 11 percent higher chance of being found than their feline counterparts, highlighting the different challenges in locating and recovering missing pets.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Reconciliation is as natural as conflict — but pacifism, or being completely unwilling to defend yourself, while aiming for peace as an end, provides no means of getting there.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Talks between North Kansas City and the Royals to build a new ballpark there appear to be getting more serious as the mayor says the city is working out the framework of a deal.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rummaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rummaging. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share