browse
browz
Browse (verb) means to look through something casually, without a specific goal in mind. Example: “She liked to browse the shelves of the second-hand bookshop.”
verb
1
To look through something casually, without a specific goal in mind.
"She liked to browse the shelves of the second-hand bookshop."
"He was just browsing online, not planning to buy anything."
"On rainy afternoons we like to browse the market stalls without buying anything."
2
Of an animal, to feed on leaves, shoots, or shrubs.
"The deer browsed on the low branches at the edge of the woods."
"Goats will browse on shrubs and young shoots when grass is scarce."
"In winter, the cattle browse the hedgerow for whatever green leaves remain."
How to use browse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo look around casually — through a shop, a website, or (for animals) through leaves and shrubs — without a fixed goal.
Common pairings
browse the internet
browse through a catalogue
browse for shoes
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Word forms
- Plural
- browses
- Third person singular
- browses
- Past tense
- browsed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She liked to _____ the shelves of the second-hand bookshop.
Etymology
From Old French brouster, "to nibble buds and shoots" — the original sense was about animals grazing, and the casual "look around" meaning developed from that image of sampling a little here and there.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “browse” mean?
The word “browse” means to look through something casually, without a specific goal in mind. In plain terms, to look around casually — through a shop, a website, or (for animals) through leaves and shrubs — without a fixed goal.
How do you pronounce “browse”?
“Browse” is pronounced browz (/bɹaʊz/ in IPA).
How do you use “browse” in a sentence?
Here is “browse” used in a sentence: “She liked to browse the shelves of the second-hand bookshop.”
What part of speech is “browse”?
“Browse” is a verb.
Where does the word “browse” come from?
The word “browse” comes from Old French. From Old French brouster, "to nibble buds and shoots" — the original sense was about animals grazing, and the casual "look around" meaning developed from that image of sampling a little here and there.
Is “browse” a common word?
“Browse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “browse” have?
“Browse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to look through something casually, without a specific goal in mind.
What is the difference between browse and search?
"Browse" means to look through something casually without a specific goal in mind, while "search" implies looking for something particular. Browsing a website is open-ended exploration, whereas searching targets a specific item or answer.
Is "browse" the same as "surf" when talking about the internet?
They are closely related and often used interchangeably for casual internet use, but "browse" more precisely describes looking through content without a fixed goal, which fits well with online window-shopping or reading. "Surf" is a more informal, colloquial equivalent for the same casual activity.
Does "browse" always refer to shopping or reading?
No. "Browse" also has a separate sense used for animals, meaning to feed on leaves, shoots, or shrubs, as deer or goats do. This is distinct from the everyday sense of casually looking through websites or shop items.
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