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¹find

verb \ˈfīnd\

: to discover (something or someone) without planning or trying to : to discover (something or someone) by chance

: to get or discover (something or someone that you are looking for)

: to discover or learn (something) by studying about it

found \ˈfau̇nd\ find·ing

Full Definition of FIND

transitive verb

a : to come upon often accidentally : encounter

b : to meet with (a particular reception) <hoped to find favor>

a : to come upon by searching or effort <must find a suitable person for the job>

b : to discover by study or experiment <find an answer>

c : to obtain by effort or management <find the time to study>

d : attain, reach <the bullet found its mark>

a : to discover by the intellect or the feelings : experience <find much pleasure in your company>

b : to perceive (oneself) to be in a certain place or condition

c : to gain or regain the use or power of <trying to find his tongue>

d : to bring (oneself) to a realization of one's powers or of one's proper sphere of activity <must help the student to find himself as an individual — N. M. Pusey>

a : provide, supply

b : to furnish (room and board) especially as a condition of employment

: to determine and make a statement about <find a verdict> <found her guilty>

intransitive verb

: to determine a case judicially by a verdict <find for the defendant>

— find·able \ˈfīn-də-bəl\ adjective

— find fault

: to criticize unfavorably

See find defined for English-language learners

See find defined for kids

Origin of FIND

Middle English, from Old English findan; akin to Old High German findan to find, Latin pont-, pons bridge, Greek pontos sea, Sanskrit patha way, course

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FIND

Synonyms: ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up

Antonyms: miss, overlook, pass over

Rhymes with FIND

bind, blind, grind, hind, kind, mind, rind, signed, spined, tined, wind, wynd

²find

noun

: something or someone that has been found; especially : a valuable person or thing that has been found or discovered

Full Definition of FIND

: an act or instance of finding

: something found: as

a : a valuable discovery <an archaeological find>

b : a person whose ability proves to be unexpectedly good

See find defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of FIND

1825

Related to FIND

Synonyms: discovery

FINDS Defined for Kids

¹find

verb \ˈfīnd\

found \ˈfau̇nd\find·ing

Definition of FIND for Kids

: to come upon by chance <He found a dime.>

: to come upon or get by searching, study, or effort <She finally found the answer.> <I found some free time.>

: to make a decision about <The jury found her guilty.>

: to know by experience <I find this Web site useful.>

: to gain or regain the use of <I found my voice again.>

: to become aware of being in a place, condition, or activity <Omri found himself wondering … where his magnifying glass was. — Lynne Reid Banks, The Indian in the Cupboard>

— find·er noun

— find fault

: to criticize in an unfavorable way

— find out

: to learn by studying, watching, or searching <I found out the secret.>