rummage
Say it: RUM-ij /ˈrʌmɪdʒ/ · verb
What “rummage” means
Search through things, moving them about in a messy way.
More precisely: To search untidily through a mass of things.
Example: “I rummaged through my gym bag for ten minutes before finding my keys.”
When to use it
Use it casually when someone searches through a drawer, cupboard or pile by shifting things around rather untidily.
Similar words
search, root, ferret
Quick check
You pull scarves, gloves and old receipts from a drawer, moving everything about while hunting for a torch. What do you do?
rummage or organise?
Show the answer
rummage
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