Top 38 Slang For Find – Meaning & Usage

Looking to expand your vocabulary and stay up-to-date with the latest slang? We’ve got you covered with our list of the top slang words for “find.” Whether you’re a language enthusiast or just want to sound hip, this listicle will introduce you to the coolest and most popular slang terms people are using to express the act of finding something. Get ready to level up your slang game and find out what’s buzzing in the world of language!

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1. Score

To find or come across something, often unexpectedly or by chance. The term “score” is commonly used to express excitement or satisfaction about finding something valuable or desirable.

For example, “I scored a vintage record at the flea market.”
A person might say, “I scored a great deal on these shoes at the clearance sale.”
Another might exclaim, “I can’t believe I scored tickets to the concert!”

2. Snag

To acquire or obtain something, often after some effort or difficulty. “Snag” is often used to describe finding or getting hold of something that is in high demand or hard to come by.

For instance, “I managed to snag the last available seat for the show.”
A person might say, “I snagged a copy of the limited edition book before it sold out.”
Another might boast, “I snagged an invitation to the exclusive party.”

3. Come across

To find or encounter something unexpectedly or by chance. “Come across” implies that the discovery was unplanned or unintentional.

For example, “While hiking, I came across a beautiful waterfall.”
A person might say, “I came across an interesting article while browsing the internet.”
Another might share, “I came across an old photo of my grandparents in the attic.”

4. Dig up

To find or discover something, often after searching or investigating. “Dig up” suggests a deliberate effort to uncover or bring something to light.

For instance, “Archaeologists dug up ancient artifacts at the excavation site.”
A person might say, “I dug up some old family photos from the storage boxes.”
Another might mention, “I dug up some interesting facts about the historical event.”

5. Unearth

To discover or uncover something, especially after thorough investigation or research. “Unearth” implies the revelation of something previously unknown or hidden.

For example, “Scientists unearthed a new species of dinosaur.”
A person might say, “I unearthed some shocking information about the company’s history.”
Another might share, “Through my investigation, I unearthed evidence of corruption.”

6. Stumble upon

To find or come across something unexpectedly or accidentally.

For example, “I was walking through the park and stumbled upon a hidden trail.”
A person might share, “I stumbled upon a vintage clothing store while exploring the city.”
Another might say, “I stumbled upon an old photo album in the attic.”

7. Lay hands on

To find or obtain something, often with a sense of urgency or determination.

For instance, “I finally laid my hands on the latest bestselling novel.”
A person might say, “I need to lay my hands on a charger for my phone.”
Another might share, “I laid my hands on some rare collectible items at a flea market.”

8. Pinpoint

To find or determine the exact location or details of something.

For example, “The detective was able to pinpoint the suspect’s whereabouts.”
A person might say, “I can’t pinpoint the source of the strange noise in my car.”
Another might share, “The scientist was able to pinpoint the cause of the mysterious illness.”

9. Track down

To find or locate someone or something after a thorough search or investigation.

For instance, “The journalist spent months trying to track down the elusive witness.”
A person might say, “I need to track down the owner of this lost dog.”
Another might share, “I tracked down the rare vinyl record I’ve been searching for.”

10. Ferret out

To find or uncover something by persistent and determined searching or investigation.

For example, “The reporter was able to ferret out the truth behind the scandal.”
A person might say, “I’m determined to ferret out the secret ingredient in this recipe.”
Another might share, “The detective was skilled at ferreting out hidden clues.”

11. Fish out

When you fish out something, you are actively searching for and retrieving an item or information that was previously hidden or hard to find.

For example, “I had to fish out my keys from the bottom of my bag.”
In a game of hide-and-seek, one player might say, “I’m going to fish you out from behind that tree!”
If you’re searching for a specific file on your computer, you might say, “I need to fish out that document from my downloads folder.”

12. Turn up

When something turns up, it means that you have discovered or found it unexpectedly or after a search.

For instance, “I thought I lost my phone, but it turned up under the couch.”
If you’re looking for a specific book in a library, you might say, “I hope it turns up on one of these shelves.”
When you find a solution to a problem after searching for answers, you might say, “I finally turned up the answer I was looking for.”

13. Hunt down

To hunt down means to actively pursue and capture or find someone or something, often with determination or persistence.

For example, “The police are determined to hunt down the fugitive.”
In a game of tag, one player might say, “I’m going to hunt you down!”
If you’re searching for a rare collectible, you might say, “I’ve been hunting it down for years, and I finally found it.”

14. Discover

Discover means to find something for the first time or become aware of something previously unknown.

For instance, “I discovered a hidden gem of a restaurant in my neighborhood.”
If you stumble upon an interesting fact, you might say, “I just discovered that giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans.”
When exploring a new city, you might say, “I love discovering new places to eat and visit.”

15. Locate

To locate means to determine the exact or specific position of something, often through careful searching or investigation.

For example, “I need to locate my phone; I can’t find it anywhere.”
In a treasure hunt, one might say, “We need to locate the next clue to continue.”
When searching for a specific address, you might say, “I need to locate the building on this street.”

16. Identify

To recognize or discover something or someone.

For example, “I can’t identify the person in the photo.”
In a game of hide and seek, one player might say, “I can’t identify where you’re hiding.”
A detective might ask a witness, “Can you identify the suspect?”

17. Acquire

To gain possession or control of something.

For instance, “I need to acquire more information before making a decision.”
A collector might say, “I want to acquire that rare item for my collection.”
In a business negotiation, one might ask, “What do we need to do to acquire this company?”

18. Retrieve

To bring back or regain something that was lost, stolen, or misplaced.

For example, “I need to retrieve my keys from the car.”
A computer technician might say, “I can retrieve the deleted files from your hard drive.”
In a game of fetch with a dog, one might command, “Go retrieve the ball!”

19. Secure

To obtain or gain possession of something in a way that ensures it is protected or safe.

For instance, “I need to secure a loan for the new house.”
A homeowner might say, “I want to secure my property with a security system.”
In a military context, one might discuss, “The troops need to secure the area before proceeding.”

20. Procure

To obtain or bring about something, often through effort or persuasion.

For example, “I need to procure a rare ingredient for this recipe.”
A negotiator might say, “I will do my best to procure a fair deal for both parties.”
In a business context, one might discuss, “Our goal is to procure new clients for the company.”

21. Uncover

To find or reveal something that was previously hidden or unknown. “Uncover” often implies a sense of unveiling or exposing.

For example, a detective might say, “I was able to uncover new evidence in the case.”
In a historical context, someone might say, “Archaeologists uncovered ancient artifacts at the dig site.”
A journalist might write, “The investigation uncovered corruption within the government.”

22. Detect

To discover or notice something, often through careful observation or analysis. “Detect” implies a sense of recognizing or perceiving something that may not be immediately obvious.

For instance, a scientist might say, “We were able to detect traces of the chemical in the water.”
A security system might detect motion and trigger an alarm.
A person might detect a hint of sarcasm in someone’s tone of voice.

23. Spot

To see or notice something, often by chance or in a brief moment. “Spot” implies a sense of quickly or casually finding something.

For example, “I spotted a rare bird in the tree.”
A person might say, “I spotted a great deal at the store.”
Someone might spot a familiar face in a crowd.

24. Lay your hands on

To find or acquire something, often with the implication of it being difficult to obtain or in high demand. “Lay your hands on” suggests a sense of physically getting hold of something.

For instance, a collector might say, “I finally laid my hands on a rare comic book.”
A person might exclaim, “I need to lay my hands on a cup of coffee right now.”
A shopaholic might say, “I can’t wait to lay my hands on the latest fashion trends.”

25. Ferret around

To search or rummage around in a determined or persistent manner. “Ferret around” suggests a sense of actively and energetically searching for something.

For example, “I had to ferret around in my bag to find my keys.”
A person might say, “I need to ferret around in the attic for that old photo album.”
Someone might ferret around in their pockets to find loose change.

26. Pin down

To pin down means to discover or locate something or someone. It is often used when talking about finding information or figuring something out.

For example, “I finally managed to pin down the source of the problem.”
In a conversation about a missing item, someone might ask, “Have you been able to pin down where you last saw it?”
A detective might say, “We need to pin down the suspect’s whereabouts at the time of the crime.”

27. Lay eyes on

To lay eyes on means to see or find something for the first time. It is often used to express excitement or surprise when encountering something new or unexpected.

For instance, “I couldn’t believe my luck when I laid eyes on the perfect apartment.”
When talking about a celebrity sighting, someone might say, “I finally laid eyes on my favorite actor.”
A traveler might describe their experience, “When I laid eyes on the Eiffel Tower, I was in awe.”

28. Come upon

To come upon means to stumble upon or find something unexpectedly. It implies a chance encounter or discovery.

For example, “While hiking, we came upon a hidden waterfall.”
When discussing a rare item, someone might say, “I never expected to come upon such a valuable antique.”
A person might describe a surprising encounter, “I came upon an old friend while shopping at the mall.”

29. Dig

To dig means to find or uncover something through research or investigation. It is often used when talking about finding information or delving deeper into a subject.

For instance, “I need to dig a bit deeper to find the answer.”
When discussing a historical event, someone might say, “I’ve been digging into the archives to learn more about it.”
A journalist might say, “I dug up some interesting facts for my article.”

30. Get hold of

To get hold of means to successfully find or obtain something. It implies a level of effort or difficulty in acquiring the desired item or information.

For example, “I finally got hold of those concert tickets I’ve been searching for.”
When talking about a rare book, someone might say, “It’s nearly impossible to get hold of a first edition.”
A person might describe their experience, “I managed to get hold of some exclusive merchandise.”

31. Realize

To become aware or understand something.

For example, “I didn’t realize how much I loved her until she was gone.”
In a conversation about a difficult situation, someone might say, “I realized I needed to make a change.”
A person might reflect on their personal growth and say, “I’ve realized that happiness comes from within.”

32. Ascertain

To determine or discover something with certainty.

For instance, “I couldn’t ascertain the answer to the riddle.”
In a mystery novel, a detective might say, “I need to ascertain the suspect’s alibi.”
A person might ask for help, saying, “Can you help me ascertain the meaning of this word?”

33. Apprehend

To capture or arrest someone, typically a criminal.

For example, “The police apprehended the suspect after a high-speed chase.”
In a discussion about law enforcement, someone might say, “The goal is to apprehend dangerous criminals and keep the community safe.”
A news headline might read, “Fugitive finally apprehended after months on the run.”

34. Obtain

To acquire or come into possession of something.

For instance, “I was able to obtain a rare collectible at the auction.”
In a conversation about job hunting, someone might say, “I need to obtain more experience to land my dream job.”
A person might share a success story, saying, “After years of hard work, I finally obtained my degree.”

35. Recover

To regain possession or find something that was lost or missing.

For example, “I was able to recover my lost wallet.”
In a discussion about data loss, someone might say, “I need to recover the files from my crashed hard drive.”
A person might share a personal story, saying, “After a difficult breakup, I took time to heal and recover.”

36. Root out

To find or uncover something that is hidden or difficult to find. “Root out” implies a thorough and determined search for something.

For example, a detective might say, “We need to root out the source of this illegal activity.”
If someone is searching for a lost item, they might say, “I’m going to root out that missing key.”
In a political context, someone might say, “We need to root out corruption in our government.”

37. Sniff out

To find or detect something by using one’s sense of smell or intuition. “Sniff out” suggests a keen ability to locate or discover something.

For instance, a dog might sniff out drugs hidden in a bag.
A journalist might say, “I have a nose for news and can sniff out a good story.”
If someone suspects dishonesty, they might say, “I can sniff out a lie from a mile away.”

38. Scout out

To search or investigate an area in order to find or discover something. “Scout out” implies a careful and systematic exploration.

For example, a hiker might scout out a trail before embarking on a long hike.
A real estate agent might say, “I’ll scout out the neighborhood to find the best properties.”
Before planning a vacation, someone might scout out different destinations to find the perfect spot.