rummage

[ ruhm-ij ]

verb (used with object)

, rum·maged, rum·mag·ing.

1. to search thoroughly or actively through (a place, receptacle, etc.), especially by moving around, turning over, or looking through contents.
2. to find, bring, or fetch by searching (often followed by out or up ).

verb (used without object)

, rum·maged, rum·mag·ing.

1. to search actively, as in a place or receptacle or within oneself:

   She rummaged in her mind for the forgotten name.

noun

1. miscellaneous articles; odds and ends.
2. a rummaging search.

rummage

/ ˈrʌmɪdʒ /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by through to search (through) while looking for something, often causing disorder or confusion

noun

1. an act of rummaging
2. a jumble of articles
3. obsolete.
   confusion or bustle

Derived Forms

• ˈrummager, noun

Other Words From

• rummag·er noun
• un·rummaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rummage¹

1520–30; aphetic alteration of Middle French arrumage, equivalent to arrum ( er ) to stow goods in the hold of a ship (< ?) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of rummage¹

C14 (in the sense: to pack a cargo): from Old French arrumage , from arrumer to stow in a ship's hold, probably of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Another leaned forward at that point to rummage in her bag for a mint.

From The Daily Beast

Malamo Voulgaropoulou, a former singer now in her 80s, is one of many pensioners who rummage through dumpsters for food.

From The Daily Beast

Previously, Anderson had enraged Hoover by assigning a reporter to rummage through his trash at home.

From The Daily Beast

She arose to go, then sat down again and said, "I hope you will be able to attend our Rummage Sale."

From Project Gutenberg

Utterly irrelevantly, Stanton brushed him aside, and began to rummage anxiously among the books on his table.

From Project Gutenberg

Mzli laid both books on the lion skin and began to rummage through her pockets.

From Project Gutenberg

Then—for I was fretting to see and rummage over my new home with a measuring tape in my hands—we arranged to drive over.

From Project Gutenberg

It would be meritorious not to leave a trace of pious men who rummage in your stomachs!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• comb
• forage
• poke
• scour