scrounged; scrounging
: to search about and turn up something needed from whatever source is available
also
: to actively seek money, work, or sustenance from any available source
scrounger
noun
Synonyms
Examples of scrounge in a Sentence
I managed to scrounge enough money for a bus ticket.
He's always scrounging off his friends instead of paying for things himself.
We scrounged around for firewood.
We managed to scrounge some firewood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Over time, Worthy scrounged together money to start addressing the backlog, even seeking private donations as small as $5.
—
Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2024
The hodgepodge replacement force that Russia scrounged up in the early summer failed badly on the battlefield.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2023
Celebrity Presenters…A Lot of Them If the Oscars can scrounge up 20 or so celebrities to shell out statues every year, than the Olympics can certainly manage a few for medal ceremonies.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
The Gates Foundation by that point had pulled back from funding RTS,S, but the WHO scrounged $70 million for the pilot from sources including Unitaid, Gavi, and the Global Fund, with doses donated by GSK.
—Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scrounge 
Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2024
The hodgepodge replacement force that Russia scrounged up in the early summer failed badly on the battlefield.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2023
Celebrity Presenters…A Lot of Them If the Oscars can scrounge up 20 or so celebrities to shell out statues every year, than the Olympics can certainly manage a few for medal ceremonies.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
The Gates Foundation by that point had pulled back from funding RTS,S, but the WHO scrounged $70 million for the pilot from sources including Unitaid, Gavi, and the Global Fund, with doses donated by GSK.
—Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scrounge
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scrounge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scrounge
Cite this Entry
“Scrounge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrounge. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scrounge
verb
scrounged; scrounging
1
: to collect by or as if by rummaging
scrounge around for firewood
2
: to get by coaxing or persuading
scrounge a dollar from a friend
scrounger
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share