Skip to main content

scrounge — to obtain something by asking or searching, especially when you have no right to it

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to obtain something by asking or searching, especially when you have no right to it

Pronunciation (IPA): /skraʊndʒ/

Example Sentences

  • The college student had to scrounge for quarters to do laundry.
  • She managed to scrounge up enough ingredients to make dinner.
  • My roommate always scrounges my snacks when he gets hungry.

scrounge

VERB

[/skraʊndʒ/]

to obtain something by asking or searching, especially when you have no right to it

He tried to scrounge a few coins from his roommates for the vending machine.
💡 Concept

He tried to scrounge a few coins from his roommates for the vending machine.

Scrounge through the lounge in grunge!
🎵 Rhyme

Scrounge through the lounge in grunge!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/skraʊndʒ/
🇬🇧 UK/skraʊndʒ/

🌳Etymology

Rootscrounge

Origin

Scrounge emerged in early 20th-century American slang, likely from a blend of 'scrunch' (to squeeze or compress) and 'scrooge' (a miserly person). The term combines the sense of rummaging or searching through something with the connotation of begging or obtaining things in a miserly or resourceful manner.

Breakdown

scr- (to scrape, scratch, or rummage) + -ounge (dialectal suffix, possibly influenced by lounge). The word blends scrunch/scratch with scrooge-like behavior, creating a portmanteau meaning to hunt for or beg for something in a scrappy manner.

🎵Rhyme

lounge
grunge

🔗Collocations

scrounge for money
scrounge around
scrounge up
scrounge a meal
scrounge cigarettes

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The college student had to scrounge for quarters to do laundry.”

“She managed to scrounge up enough ingredients to make dinner.”

😄 Fun example

“My roommate always scrounges my snacks when he gets hungry.”

📚Related Words

Want to master 27,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.