verb
found out
fownd OWT
Found out (verb) means past tense and past participle of find out: learned or discovered something previously unknown. Example: “I only found out about the wedding from a friend.”
verb
1
Past tense and past participle of find out: learned or discovered something previously unknown.
"I only found out about the wedding from a friend."
"We had found out too late that the deadline was Friday."
2
Past tense and past participle of find out in the sense of being caught in a lie or wrongdoing.
"He was found out within a week of forging the invoice."
"She lived in fear of being found out."
How to use found out
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLearned something you did not know, or got caught.
When to use it
Neutral. In the being-caught sense it is nearly always passive: someone is found out.
Memory tip
Do not confuse this with found meaning established. "She founded the charity" and "she found out about the charity" are different verbs entirely.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
found out about
found out that
just found out
was found out
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I only _____ about the wedding from a friend.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for found out
See all rhymes for found out →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between found and found out?
Found is the past of find and takes an object you locate — "I found my phone". Found out is the past of the phrasal verb find out and takes information — "I found out where my phone was". Confusingly, found is also the present tense of a separate verb meaning to establish an institution.
What does it mean to be found out?
It means your deception, mistake or secret has been discovered by others. It carries a strong implication of guilt or embarrassment, which is why it is common in phrases like impostor syndrome discussions — "I'm terrified of being found out".
What is the meaning of found out?
"found out" (verb) means past tense and past participle of find out: learned or discovered something previously unknown.
What is another word for found out?
Other words for "found out" include discovered, learned, realised, uncovered, caught out, exposed.
