find out

verb

found out; finding out; finds out
Synonyms of find outnext

transitive verb

1
: to learn by effort, study, observation, or search : discover
I need to find out where the meeting is being held.
2
a
: to catch in an offense (such as a crime)
The culprits were soon found out.
b
: to ascertain the true character or identity of
The informer was eventually found out.

intransitive verb

: to discover, learn, or verify something
I don't know, but I'll find out for you.

Synonyms of find out

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Examples of find out in a Sentence

that was around the time that I found out I was adopted found out about the new restaurant by reading reviews online
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.
When people can’t easily find out how much water and power a site will use, or who actually benefits, politicians fill the gap with rhetoric. — Adhum Carter Wolde-Lule, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 And as the most recent press secretary found out, you can be fired from the position just as quickly as you were hired. — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026 Lowery tried to find out if Califia received an assessment from a jail psychologist or any treatment services, but the county didn’t hand over any information. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The town of Fort Myers Beach issued permits for flood panels for a few years, until FEMA found out and put a stop to it, per reporting by the Cape Coral Breeze. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for find out

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of find out was in the 15th century

Rhymes for find out

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Browse Nearby Words

Findon haddock
find out
find out about
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Cite this Entry

“Find out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/find%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

find out

verb
1
: to learn by study, observation, or search : discover
2
: to catch doing something bad
the culprit was found out
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