EN

Synonyms for rummage

  • verb
  • noun

Most common

search hunt trawl ransack root about

All synonyms

Verb

1. Ransack — to hastily search for something in a confined space and among many items by carelessly turning things over or…

ransack, hunt, search, trawl, examine, explore, rifle, fish

Other

root about, root around US

Noun

ransacking, miscellany, mish-mash, exploration, root, paw, romage, grabble

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To hastily search for something in a confined space and among many items by carelessly turning things over or pushing things aside; dig through carelessly.

    She rummaged in the drawers trying to find the missing sock.

  2. n. 1

    A thorough search, usually resulting in disorder.

    Have a rummage through the attic and see if you can find anything worth selling.

Related words

Phrases
rummage sale

Forms

Plural
rummages → ransackings, miscellanies, mish-mashes, explorations…
Past participle
rummaged
e.g. rummaged → ransacked, hunted, searched, trawled…

Example sentences

  • search The villagers went in search of the missing child.
  • hunt Dmitri accompanied Rima in her demon-hunt mission.
  • trawl Tom went to a charity shop to trawl through all the records they had for sale.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
rummagerising
searchrising
huntrising
trawlfalling
ransackrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
paw1
4 letters
fish1, hunt1, root1
5 letters
rifle2, trawl
6 letters
search1, romage
7 letters
explore2, examine3, ransack2, grabble
10 letters
miscellany4, ransacking3
11 letters
exploration4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (rifle2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
farfouiller
Italiano
frugare