rummaged; rummaging
1
: to make a thorough search or investigation
2
: to engage in an undirected or haphazard search
1
: to make a thorough search through : ransack
rummaged the attic
2
: to examine minutely and completely
3
: to discover by searching
rummager
noun
1
a
: a confused miscellaneous collection
b
: items for sale at a rummage sale
2
: a thorough search especially among a confusion of objects
Synonyms
Verb
- ascertain
- descry
- detect
- determine
- dig out
- dig up
- discover
- dredge (up)
- ferret (out)
- find
- find out
- get
- hit (on or upon)
- hunt (down or up)
- learn
- locate
- nose out
- root (out)
- rout (out)
- run down
- scare up
- scout (up)
- track (down)
- turn up
Noun
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jambalaya
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- tumble
- variety
- welter
Examples of rummage in a Sentence
Verb
He rummaged through the attic for his baseball card collection.
He rummaged in his pocket for the receipt.
I heard you rummaging around in the refrigerator.
Noun
a rummage of textbooks, notebooks, and old school papers all over the desk
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 June 2024
The weakness allowed intruders to masquerade as legitimate employees and rummage through sensitive data in the cloud, including emails.
—Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 13 June 2024
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024
Michonne rummages and finds the handwritten dossier hidden inside a metal cat statue (see below).
—Leah Marilla Thomas, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rummage 
Verb
Rust had a rally of supporters, including his son-in-law and members of his church, helping clean out his basement and rummage through what may be salvageable Thursday.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 June 2024
The weakness allowed intruders to masquerade as legitimate employees and rummage through sensitive data in the cloud, including emails.
—Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 13 June 2024
Noun
Dion, now 56, rummages through the items while highlighting key moments in her career.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024
Michonne rummages and finds the handwritten dossier hidden inside a metal cat statue (see below).
—Leah Marilla Thomas, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rummage
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rummage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rummage
Cite this Entry
“Rummage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rummage. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rummage
1 of 2 verb
rum·mage
ˈrəm-ij 
rummaged; rummaging
: to make an active search especially by moving, turning, or looking through the contents of a place or container
rummaging through the attic
rummage
2 of 2 noun
: a confused miscellaneous collection of articles
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