phrasal verb

find out

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Find out (phrasal verb) means to learn something you did not previously know, either by asking, checking or discovering it by chance. Example: “I rang the surgery to find out whether the results were back.”

phrasal verb

To learn something you did not previously know, either by asking, checking or discovering it by chance.

"I rang the surgery to find out whether the results were back."

"We found out later that the train had been cancelled all along."

To detect someone in a lie, crime or deception, so that their behaviour becomes known.

"He was terrified his employers would find him out."

"Cheats are almost always found out in the end."

How to use find out

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo get to know something you did not know before.

When to use it

Neutral and very common in speech. The object can go in the middle or at the end when it is a noun ("find out the answer" or "find the answer out"), but a pronoun must go in the middle: "find it out", "find him out".

Memory tip

Use find out for information you receive; use figure out for something you work through in your head.

Easily confused with

figure out work out found out →

Common pairings

find out more find out about find out the truth find out what happened let me find out

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

I rang the surgery to _____ whether the results were back.

Synonyms

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discover learn ascertain establish uncover catch out expose unmask rumble

Related words

find found name show control watch check hear

Rhymes for find out

out tout bout gout lout pout rout about trout spout clout grout

See all rhymes for find out →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between find out and figure out?

Find out means to obtain a piece of information from somewhere else — by asking, reading or being told. Figure out means to reach an answer by reasoning it through yourself. You find out the train time from the timetable; you figure out how to reset the router.

What is the difference between find and find out?

Find usually takes a physical object — you find your keys. Find out takes information — you find out where your keys are. Find out is nearly always followed by a clause beginning with what, who, whether, if or that.

What does "fuck around and find out" mean?

It is a blunt slang warning that reckless behaviour will bring consequences: if you provoke something, you will experience the result. It is often shortened to FAFO and is vulgar, so it belongs in informal speech only.

What is the meaning of find out?

"find out" (phrasal verb) means to learn something you did not previously know, either by asking, checking or discovering it by chance.

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find found name show control watch check hear