Find (verb) — to discover or locate something; to come upon something by searching, chance, or experience. Also used to express an opinion or conclusion reached through thought or experience: I find this explanation very clear.
What Does Find Mean?
Find is one of the most common and versatile verbs in English. Its core meaning is to locate something — whether that is a physical object you have lost, a piece of information you have been searching for, or a solution to a problem. However, find extends well beyond simple location.
When followed by an object and an adjective, find expresses a personal opinion or reaction: I find the new design confusing. In legal and formal contexts, find means to reach an official conclusion: The jury found the defendant not guilty. It can also describe coming across something unexpectedly: She found a ten-pound note on the pavement.
Note that find is an irregular verb. The past simple and past participle are both found. Writing finded is incorrect and a very common ESL error. Compare find (successful discovery) with look for (the act of searching), and with discover (which often implies a more significant or formal revelation).
Etymology
Find comes from Old English findan, which is related to Old High German findan, Old Norse finna, and Gothic finþan — all meaning to locate or come upon something. It is one of the oldest recorded verbs in Germanic languages. The irregular past tense found reflects the ancient strong-verb conjugation pattern that English has preserved for well over a thousand years, long before the modern regular -ed ending became dominant.
Example Sentences (A2–C1)
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| I found my keys under the sofa. | A2 — past simple, physical location |
| Can you help me find the nearest post office? | A2–B1 — request, directions context |
| She found it quite difficult to concentrate in the open-plan office. | B1 — find + object + adjective expressing opinion |
| Researchers have found strong evidence linking sleep deprivation to reduced productivity. | B2 — academic/formal register, present perfect |
| The committee found that the original data had been selectively presented, thereby rendering the conclusions unreliable. | C1 — formal/legal register, reported finding with complex clause |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| find it + adjective | Express a reaction: I find it hard to wake up early. |
| find a solution / way | Discover an answer: We need to find a solution quickly. |
| find time | Make time available: She never finds time to read. |
| find fault (with) | Criticise: He always finds fault with my work. |
| find common ground | Agree on shared points: The two sides finally found common ground. |
| find one's feet | Settle into a new situation: It took me a month to find my feet in the new job. |
| find out | Discover information: Did you find out when the results are published? |
| find oneself + -ing | Realise you are doing something: I found myself nodding off during the lecture. |
Usage Notes: Formal vs Informal
Informal / everyday use: In conversation and informal writing, find and find out are the natural choices for most situations. Did you find the report? I can't find my charger. Find out is particularly common when referring to discovering a piece of information.
Formal / academic use: In academic writing, find is used to present research results: The study found that… In legal language, find is used for verdicts and official determinations: The tribunal found in favour of the claimant. In both registers, the structure find + object + adjective (or find + object + to be + adjective) is appropriate for expressing assessed qualities: The inspector found the premises to be in a satisfactory condition.
Phrasal verbs: Find out (discover information) is extremely common and essentially neutral in register. Find oneself (suddenly realise you are in a situation) has a slightly literary or reflective tone. Find against / find for (legal: rule against or in favour of) are restricted to formal and legal contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Words
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I finded my wallet in the car. (incorrect irregular verb)
I found my wallet in the car. (correct: past tense is found)
She found the book very boringly. (adjective, not adverb, follows find + object)
She found the book very boring. (correct: find + object + adjective)
I am looking for and finding the answer. (confused process with result)
I am looking for the answer. / I found the answer. (look for = searching; find = result)