found
7 synonyms and 3 antonyms for found, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — Past tense and past participle of "find."
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
Etymology
The "establish" sense comes from Latin fundare, "to lay a foundation"; the past-tense sense is simply the irregular past form of "find."
Full origin of found →Frequently asked questions
What does “found” mean?
The word “found” means past tense and past participle of "find.". In plain terms, either the past tense of "find," or the act of starting something, or basing something on solid ground.
How do you pronounce “found”?
“Found” is pronounced FOWND (/ˈfaʊ̯nd/ in IPA).
How do you use “found” in a sentence?
Here is “found” used in a sentence: “She found her keys under the couch.”
What is the opposite of “found”?
The opposite of “found” — its antonyms — are ruin, dissolve and abolish.
What part of speech is “found”?
“Found” is a verb.
Where does the word “found” come from?
The word “found” comes from Latin. The "establish" sense comes from Latin fundare, "to lay a foundation"; the past-tense sense is simply the irregular past form of "find.".
Is “found” a common word?
“Found” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “found” have?
“Found” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: past tense and past participle of "find.".
What is the difference between 'found' and 'founded'?
They come from different verbs. "Found" is the past tense of "find," meaning to discover, as in "I found my keys." "Founded" is the past tense of "found" meaning to establish, as in "the company was founded in 1990." So you found something you had lost, but you founded an organisation you set up.
Is 'found' always the past tense of 'find'?
No. There are two separate verbs. Most often "found" is the past tense and past participle of "find," meaning to discover. But "found" is also its own present-tense verb meaning to establish or set up something, as in "they found a charity." Context tells you which verb is at work.
What is the difference between 'found' and 'founder'?
To "found" is a verb meaning to establish something. A "founder" is the person who does this, the one who founds a company or movement. Confusingly, "founder" is also a separate verb meaning to fail or sink, as in "the ship foundered." So the single word "founder" carries two unrelated meanings.
What is the past participle of 'find'?
It is "found," the same as the simple past tense. You use it with "have" or "had": "I have found the answer" or "the report was found on his desk." "Find" is an irregular verb, so both of its past forms are "found" rather than ending in the usual -ed.