verb
ransack
RAN-sak
Ransack (verb) means to search a place thoroughly and roughly, often leaving it in disorder. Example: “Burglars had ransacked the house looking for valuables.”
verb
1
To search a place thoroughly and roughly, often leaving it in disorder.
"Burglars had ransacked the house looking for valuables."
"Soldiers ransacked the abandoned village for supplies."
How to use ransack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo search somewhere roughly and thoroughly, usually leaving a mess, often while looking for something to steal.
Common pairings
ransack the house
ransack a room
thoroughly ransacked
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Word forms
- Plural
- ransacks
- Third person singular
- ransacks
- Past tense
- ransacked
- Archaic forms
- ransackest, ransackedst, ransacketh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Burglars had _____ the house looking for valuables.
Etymology
From Old Norse rannsaka, literally "to search a house" — from rann ("house") plus a word meaning "to seek."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “ransack” mean?
The word “ransack” means to search a place thoroughly and roughly, often leaving it in disorder. In plain terms, to search somewhere roughly and thoroughly, usually leaving a mess, often while looking for something to steal.
How do you pronounce “ransack”?
“Ransack” is pronounced RAN-sak (/ˈɹænsæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “ransack” in a sentence?
Here is “ransack” used in a sentence: “Burglars had ransacked the house looking for valuables.”
What is another word for “ransack”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ransack” include ramshack, ransackle and ranshackle.
What part of speech is “ransack”?
“Ransack” is a verb.
Where does the word “ransack” come from?
The word “ransack” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse rannsaka, literally "to search a house" — from rann ("house") plus a word meaning "to seek.".
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