rummage — English Dictionary

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Language

rummage

Pronunciations (2)

Verb

To arrange (cargo, goods, etc.) in the hold of a ship; to move or rearrange such goods.
Usage
- Transitive
To search a vessel for smuggled goods.
Usage
- Transitive
Examples

After the long voyage, the customs officers rummaged the ship.
To search something thoroughly and with disregard for the way in which things were arranged.
Usage
- Transitive
Examples

She rummaged her purse in search of the keys.

The burglars rummaged the entire house for cash and jewellery.

More examples (3)

He[…]searcheth his pockets, and taketh his keys, and so rummageth all his closets and trunks.

What schoolboy of us has not rummaged his Greek dictionary in vain for a satisfactory account!

British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far.
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.
Usage
- Intransitive
Synonyms
ransack rifle trawl

Examples

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

More examples (1)

Philander went into the next room[…]and came back with a salt mackerel that dripped brine like a rainstorm. Then he put the coffee pot on the stove and rummaged out a loaf of dry bread and some hardtack.

A thorough search, usually resulting in disorder.
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Examples

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

He has made such a general rummage and reform in the office of matrimony.
Commotion; disturbance.
Usage
- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
A disorganized collection of miscellaneous objects; a jumble.
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
A place or room for the stowage of cargo in a ship.
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
The act of stowing cargo; the pulling and moving about of packages incident to close stowage.
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Synonyms
romage

a jumble of things to be given away

Broader terms
clutter jumble muddle fuddle mare's nest welter smother
a thorough search for something (often causing disorder or confusion)

Synonyms
ransacking
Broader terms
search hunt hunting

Examples

he gave the attic a good rummage but couldn't find his skis

Word forms

rummagesrummagingrummagedrummagedrummages