find
/faɪnd/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To discover or come across someone or something, often by searching or by chance.
- I can't find my keys.
- She found a wallet on the train.
- We found a good place to eat.
- 2.
To realise or learn that something is true, often after checking or thinking.
- I found the report helpful.
- They found the answer quickly.
- We found that the plan was too expensive.
- 3.
To get or obtain something, especially money, time, or room.
- Can you find a minute to talk?
- I found a seat near the window.
- She found the money for the course.
noun
A discovery, especially something interesting, useful, or valuable.
- The old coin was a great find.
- This book is a real find.
- The fossils were an exciting find.
Adinary Nuance
Find is about discovery, but it is broader than discover and more everyday than locate. Use find for things you get through searching, noticing, or realising. In formal writing, discover can sound more important, while find feels more natural and common.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tìm thấy
- Spanish
- encontrar
- Chinese
- 找到
- Japanese
- 見つける
- Korean
- 찾다
Etymology
Old English findan meant 'discover, reach, obtain'. It comes from a Germanic root found in several European languages.
Common phrases
find outfind a wayfind timefind fault with
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between find and discover?
- Find is more common and everyday. Discover often sounds more formal or more important.
- Can find mean 'realise'?
- Yes. You can say, 'I found that the test was hard.'
- Is find a common word in business English?
- Yes, very common. People use it in reports, meetings, and emails.
- What does find out mean?
- It means to learn something, usually after asking, checking, or investigating.