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rummage

verb · noun

Simple meaning

To search something thoroughly and with disregard for the way in which things were arranged.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

ruhmij

Say the bold part a little louder.

US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈɹʌmɪdʒ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

verb

  1. transitive

    To search something thoroughly and with disregard for the way in which things were arranged.

  2. Search haphazardly

  3. intransitive

    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.

noun

  1. A thorough search for something (often causing disorder or confusion)

    “He gave the attic a good rummage but couldn't find his skis.”

  2. A thorough search, usually resulting in disorder.

  3. A disorganized collection of miscellaneous objects; a jumble.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
C2 · Proficient (estimated)
Frequency
Rare

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: To search something thoroughly and with disregard for the way in which things were arranged.

Used this way, rummage is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It quietly approves while staying precise.

Emotional tone
Positive
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Gentle
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Careful and exacting
Usage feel
Precise and approving

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use rummage

  • “We rummaged through the drawers.”verb

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

rummage salerummage throughchurch rummagerummage inside

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

Sense: thorough search for something (often causing disorder

ransackingRare

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.