find
♦♦♦ find /f'aɪnd/ (finds finding found)
1 [VERB] V n, V n n, also V n for n
If you find someone or something, you see them or learn where they are.
The police also found a pistol...
I wonder if you could find me a deck of cards?
2 [VERB] V n, V n n, V n for n, also V n for n to-inf
If you find something that you need or want, you succeed in achieving or obtaining it.
So far they have not found a way to fight the virus...
He has to apply for a permit and we have to find him a job...
Does this mean that they haven't found a place for him?
3 [V-PASSIVE] be V-ed
If something is found in a particular place or thing, it exists in that place.
Fibre is found in cereal foods, beans, fruit and vegetables.
4 [VERB] V n -ing, V n -ed, V n prep/adv
If you find someone or something in a particular situation, they are in that situation when you see them or come into contact with them.
They found her walking alone and depressed on the beach...
She returned to her east London home to find her back door forced open...
Thrushes are a protected species so you will not find them on any menu.
5 [VERB] V pron-refl prep/adv, V pron-refl -ing, V pron-refl adj
If you find yourself doing something, you are doing it without deciding or intending to do it.
It's not the first time that you've found yourself in this situation...
I found myself having more fun than I had had in years...
It all seemed so far away from here that he found himself quite unable to take it in.
6 [VERB] V that, V it adj to-inf, V n to-inf, V n n
If you find that something is the case, you become aware of it or realize that it is the case.
The two biologists found, to their surprise, that both groups of birds survived equally well...
At my age I would find it hard to get another job...
We find her evidence to be based on a degree of oversensitivity...
I've never found my diet a problem.
7 [VERB] be V-ed adj, V n adj
When a court or jury decides that a person on trial is guilty or innocent, you say that the person has been found guilty or not guilty.
She was found guilty of manslaughter and put on probation for two years...
When they found us guilty, I just went blank.
8 [VERB] V n adj, V it adj that, V n n
You can use find to express your reaction to someone or something.
We're sure you'll find it exciting!...
I find it ludicrous that nothing has been done to protect passengers from fire...
But you'd find him a good worker if you showed him what to do.
9 [VERB] V n in -ing, V n in n
If you find a feeling such as pleasure or comfort in a particular thing or activity, you experience the feeling mentioned as a result of this thing or activity.
How could anyone find pleasure in hunting and killing this beautiful creature?...
I was too tired and frightened to find comfort in that familiar promise.
10 [VERB] V n, V n
If you find the time or money to do something, you succeed in making or obtaining enough time or money to do it.
I was just finding more time to write music...
My sister helped me find the money for a private operation.
11 [N-COUNT] usu adj N
If you describe someone or something that has been discovered as a find, you mean that they are valuable, interesting, good, or useful.
Another of his lucky finds was a pair of candle-holders...
His discovery was hailed as the botanical find of the century.
12
see also finding, found
13 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR prep/adv
If you find your way somewhere, you successfully get there by choosing the right way to go.
After a while I pulled myself to my feet and found my way to the street.
14 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR adv/prep
If something finds its way somewhere, it comes to that place, especially by chance.
It is one of the very few Michelangelos that have found their way out of Italy...
15
to find fault with: see fault
to find one's feet: see footfind out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P wh, V P that, V P n (not pron), V n P
If you find something out, you learn something that you did not already know, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so.
It makes you want to watch the next episode to find out what's going to happen...
I was relieved to find out that my problems were due to a genuine disorder...
Yesterday, the men's families held a news conference in their campaign to find out the truth...
As soon as we found this out, we closed the ward...
= discover
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If you find someone out, you discover that they have been doing something dishonest.
Her face was so grave, I wondered for a moment if she'd found me out.
1 [VERB] V n, V n n, also V n for n
If you find someone or something, you see them or learn where they are.
The police also found a pistol...
I wonder if you could find me a deck of cards?
2 [VERB] V n, V n n, V n for n, also V n for n to-inf
If you find something that you need or want, you succeed in achieving or obtaining it.
So far they have not found a way to fight the virus...
He has to apply for a permit and we have to find him a job...
Does this mean that they haven't found a place for him?
3 [V-PASSIVE] be V-ed
If something is found in a particular place or thing, it exists in that place.
Fibre is found in cereal foods, beans, fruit and vegetables.
4 [VERB] V n -ing, V n -ed, V n prep/adv
If you find someone or something in a particular situation, they are in that situation when you see them or come into contact with them.
They found her walking alone and depressed on the beach...
She returned to her east London home to find her back door forced open...
Thrushes are a protected species so you will not find them on any menu.
5 [VERB] V pron-refl prep/adv, V pron-refl -ing, V pron-refl adj
If you find yourself doing something, you are doing it without deciding or intending to do it.
It's not the first time that you've found yourself in this situation...
I found myself having more fun than I had had in years...
It all seemed so far away from here that he found himself quite unable to take it in.
6 [VERB] V that, V it adj to-inf, V n to-inf, V n n
If you find that something is the case, you become aware of it or realize that it is the case.
The two biologists found, to their surprise, that both groups of birds survived equally well...
At my age I would find it hard to get another job...
We find her evidence to be based on a degree of oversensitivity...
I've never found my diet a problem.
7 [VERB] be V-ed adj, V n adj
When a court or jury decides that a person on trial is guilty or innocent, you say that the person has been found guilty or not guilty.
She was found guilty of manslaughter and put on probation for two years...
When they found us guilty, I just went blank.
8 [VERB] V n adj, V it adj that, V n n
You can use find to express your reaction to someone or something.
We're sure you'll find it exciting!...
I find it ludicrous that nothing has been done to protect passengers from fire...
But you'd find him a good worker if you showed him what to do.
9 [VERB] V n in -ing, V n in n
If you find a feeling such as pleasure or comfort in a particular thing or activity, you experience the feeling mentioned as a result of this thing or activity.
How could anyone find pleasure in hunting and killing this beautiful creature?...
I was too tired and frightened to find comfort in that familiar promise.
10 [VERB] V n, V n
If you find the time or money to do something, you succeed in making or obtaining enough time or money to do it.
I was just finding more time to write music...
My sister helped me find the money for a private operation.
11 [N-COUNT] usu adj N
If you describe someone or something that has been discovered as a find, you mean that they are valuable, interesting, good, or useful.
Another of his lucky finds was a pair of candle-holders...
His discovery was hailed as the botanical find of the century.
12
see also finding, found
13 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR prep/adv
If you find your way somewhere, you successfully get there by choosing the right way to go.
After a while I pulled myself to my feet and found my way to the street.
14 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR adv/prep
If something finds its way somewhere, it comes to that place, especially by chance.
It is one of the very few Michelangelos that have found their way out of Italy...
15
to find fault with: see fault
to find one's feet: see footfind out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P wh, V P that, V P n (not pron), V n P
If you find something out, you learn something that you did not already know, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so.
It makes you want to watch the next episode to find out what's going to happen...
I was relieved to find out that my problems were due to a genuine disorder...
Yesterday, the men's families held a news conference in their campaign to find out the truth...
As soon as we found this out, we closed the ward...
= discover
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If you find someone out, you discover that they have been doing something dishonest.
Her face was so grave, I wondered for a moment if she'd found me out.