Showing results for "found"

• past tense form of find.
• past participle of find.

found

¹ American  

[faund] / faʊnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to set up or establish on a firm basis or for enduring existence.

   to found a new publishing company.

   Synonyms:

   originate, institute, inaugurate, organize

2. to lay the lowest part of (a structure) on a firm base or ground.

   a house founded on solid rock.

3. to base or ground (usually followed by on orupon ).

   a story founded on fact.

4. to provide a basis or ground for.

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found ² American  

[faund] / faʊnd /

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of find.

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adjective

1. equipped, outfitted, or furnished.

   He bought a new boat, fully found.

2. provided or furnished without additional charge, as to a tenant; included within the price, rent, etc. (often used postpositively).

   Room to let, laundry found.

noun

1. something that is provided or furnished without charge, especially meals given a domestic.

   Maid wanted, good salary and found.

found ³ American  

[faund] / faʊnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to melt and pour (metal, glass, etc.) into a mold.

2. to form or make (an article) of molten material in a mold; cast.

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found ¹ British  

/ faʊnd /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of find

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adjective

1. furnished, or fitted out

   the boat is well found

2. with meals, heating, bed linen, etc, provided without extra charge (esp in the phrase all found )

found ² British  

/ faʊnd /

verb

1. (tr) to bring into being, set up, or establish (something, such as an institution, society, etc)

2. (tr) to build or establish the foundation or basis of

3. (also intr; foll by on or upon) to have a basis (in); depend (on)

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found ³ British  

/ faʊnd /

verb

1. to cast (a material, such as metal or glass) by melting and pouring into a mould

2. to shape or make (articles) in this way; cast

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Etymology

Origin of found¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, founden, funden, fonden, from Old French fonder, from Latin fundāre “to lay a foundation,” derivative of fundus “bottom, foundation”

Origin of found²

First recorded before 900, for the adjective

Origin of found³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English founden, funden “to mix ingredients (in cooking),” from Middle French fondre “to melt, smelt, cast,” from Latin fundere “to pour (liquid from a container), empty, melt, cast”

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Explanation

To found something is like laying a "foundation" for a building — note the similarity? But instead of a building, you might found a business or a charity, where you establish the groundwork upon which it can grow. The verb found goes back to the Latin word fundus, meaning "bottom," which in turn led to fundāre, meaning "to lay the bottom of something." If you were to found a library, they might build a statue of you near the entrance. If you're having trouble finding the library, look for a statue with a familiar face.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

found

"And then I found in the literature that the same gene which is responsible for hairlessness in dogs is responsible for a reduced number of teeth, indicating that these were Peruvian hairless dogs."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

As a result of the three-day hold, the research team has extended the expedition time to complete its fieldwork and has yet to indicate whether they had found any promising evidence of Earhart's plane.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

The lower court judge sentenced Beaird to an even heavier sentence than he might otherwise have gotten due to the type of large-capacity firearm the police found him possessing.

From Slate ● Oct. 18, 2026

In laboratory experiments involving 39 sweeteners and 25 species of gut bacteria, researchers found that roughly three-quarters of the sweeteners altered the growth of at least one bacterial species.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

“That’s him. Isn’t he adorable? You’re too late, though. Debbie found the perfect awesome family for him.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

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Related Words

• begin
• construct
• create
• erect
• establish
• form
• initiate
• launch
• organize
• plant
• raise
• settle
• start

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