Scavenge for Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈskævəndʒ/ /ˈfɔɹ/, /fɝ/, /fɹɝ

SKAV-inj for, SKAV-inj fur

UK

skˈævəndʒ/ /fˈɔː

SKAV-inj faw

Definition

To search through things, especially waste, leftovers, or unwanted items, to find something useful or edible.

Usage & Nuances

Often used for animals searching for food, or people in survival or poverty situations. Can sound slightly negative or desperate. Common collocations: 'scavenge for food,' 'scavenge for parts.' Avoid in formal contexts regarding people unless describing extreme need.

• Spanish: buscar - rebuscar - hurgar (en busca de)
• Portuguese (BR): procurar - vasculhar (por)
• Portuguese (PT): procurar - vasculhar (por)
• Chinese (Simplified): 搜寻 - 寻找（通常指寻找废弃物或食物）
• Chinese (Traditional): 搜尋 - 尋找（通常指尋找廢棄物或食物）
• Hindi: ढूंढना - तलाशना (आमतौर पर फेंकी गई चीज़ें या खाना)
• Arabic: يبحث عن - ينقب عن (غالبًا في المهملات أو النفايات)
• Bengali: খুঁজে বের করা - খোঁজা (অবশিষ্ট বা ফেলে দেওয়া জিনিসের মধ্যে)
• Russian: разыскивать - искать (в мусоре)
• Japanese: あさる - 探し回る
• Vietnamese: lục tìm - bới tìm
• Korean: 뒤지다 - 찾아다니다
• Turkish: araştırmak - didik didik aramak (çöplükte)
• Urdu: کھوجنا - تلاش کرنا (فضلہ یا بچا ہوا مال)
• Indonesian: lục lọi - tìm kiếm (trong đống rác)

Example Sentences

Birds scavenge for crumbs in the park.

basic

People sometimes scavenge for food during difficult times.

basic

Rats scavenge for leftovers at night.

basic

After the festival, people scavenged for anything valuable left behind.

natural

He used to scavenge for spare parts in the junkyard.

natural

We watched the fox scavenge for scraps behind the restaurant.

natural