find
find
(faɪnd )Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense finds , present participle finding , past tense, past participle found
1. verb
The police also found a pistol. [VERB noun]
They have spent ages looking at the map and can't find a trace of anywhere called Darrowby. [VERB noun]
I wonder if you could find me a deck of cards? [VERB noun noun]
[Also VERB noun + for]discover, turn up, uncover, unearth, spot, expose, come up with, locate, detect, come across, track down, catch sight of, stumble upon, hit upon, espy, ferret out, chance upon, light upon, put your finger on, lay your hand on, run to ground, run to earth, descry2. verb
Many people here cannot find work. [VERB noun]
So far they have not found a way to fight the virus. [VERB noun]
He has to apply for a permit and we have to find him a job. [VERB noun noun]
Does this mean that they haven't found a place for him? [VERB noun + for]
obtain, get, come by, procure, win, gain, achieve, earn, acquire, attain3. passive verb
If something is found in a particular place or thing, it exists in that place.
Two thousand of France's 4,200 species of flowering plants are found in the park. [be VERB-ed]
Fibre is found in cereal foods, beans, fruit and vegetables. [be VERB-ed]
be present, exist, occur, obtain [formal]4. verb
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. [VERB noun verb-ing]
She returned to her east London home to find her back door forced open. [VERB noun -ed]
Thrushes are a protected species so you will not find them on any menu. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
encounter, meet, recognize5. verb
It's not the first time that you've found yourself in this situation. [VERB pronoun-reflexive preposition/adverb]
I found myself having more fun than I had had in years. [V pron-refl v-ing]
It all seemed so far away from here that he found himself quite unable to take it in. [V pron-refl adj]
6. verb [no passive, no cont]
If a time or event finds you in a particular situation, you are in that situation at the time mentioned or when the event occurs.
[written]Daybreak found us on a cold, clammy ship. [VERB noun preposition]
His lunch did not take long to arrive and found him poring over a notepad covered with scrawls. [VERB noun verb-ing]
7. verb
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. [VERB that]
At my age I would find it hard to get another job. [VERB noun adjective]
We find her evidence to be based on a degree of oversensitivity. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
I've never found my diet a problem. [VERB noun noun]
8. verb
9. verb
You can use find to express your reaction to someone or something.
I find most of the young men of my own age so boring. [VERB noun adjective]
We're sure you'll find it exciting! [VERB noun adjective]
I find it ludicrous that nothing has been done to protect passengers from fire. [VERB noun adjective]
But you'd find him a good worker if you showed him what to do. [VERB noun noun]
consider, think, hold, believe, judge, deem10. verb
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? [VERB noun + in]
I was too tired and frightened to find comfort in that familiar promise. [VERB noun + in]
feel, have, experience, sense, obtain, know11. verb
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. [VERB noun]
My sister helped me find the money for a private operation. [VERB noun]
12. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]
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.
discovery, catch, asset, bargain, acquisition, good buy14.
Phrasal verbs:
