rummage

1 of 2

verb

rum·​mage ˈrə-mij How to pronounce rummage (audio)
rummaged; rummaging
Synonyms of rummage

intransitive verb

1
: to make a thorough search or investigation
rummaged through his luggage for his passport
2
: to engage in an undirected or haphazard search
rummaged around in the refrigerator

transitive verb

1
: to make a thorough search through : ransack
rummaged the attic
2
: to examine minutely and completely
We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged and read …—Arthur Conan Doyle
3
: to discover by searching
… rummaged a sword and red sash from somewhere …—Mary B. Chesnut
rummager noun

rummage

2 of 2

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 of rummage

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Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Ferrier saw Frost rummaging through his car and ran outside and into the middle of the street, charges say. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 1 June 2026 The cross-stitch border gives this kilim rug the feel of an heirloom piece–without the effort of rummaging through an estate sale. — Briana Feigon, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2026
Noun
At that rummage-y point several years ago, Ben Stiller had no idea where his filmic lark would lead. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025 The big guys seldom eat invertebrates or rummage for dinner. — Keith Sutton, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rummage

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

obsolete English romage act of stowing cargo, modification of Middle French arrimage, from arrimer to stow, from a- (from Latin ad-) + -rimer, from Middle English rimen to open up, make room for, from Old English rȳman — more at ream

First Known Use

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rummage was in 1598

Phrases Containing rummage

Browse Nearby Words

rumless
rummage
rummager
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rummage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rummage. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rummage

1 of 2 verb
rum·​mage ˈrəm-ij How to pronounce rummage (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on rummage

Nglish: Translation of rummage for Spanish Speakers

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