Scrounging

Pronunciation: /ˈskraʊnʤɪŋ/

Definitions of scrounging

verb the action of searching for or obtaining something without permission or payment

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a cat scrounging for food in the alley.

A2 She was scrounging through her purse for loose change.

B1 The students were scrounging for extra materials to complete their project.

B2 After losing his job, he resorted to scrounging for odd jobs to make ends meet.

C1 The detective spent hours scrounging for clues at the crime scene.

C2 Despite his wealth, he still enjoyed scrounging for bargains at the local flea market.

Examples of scrounging in a Sentence

formal The homeless man was caught scrounging for food in the dumpster behind the restaurant.

informal I saw my brother scrounging for change in the couch cushions.

slang She's always scrounging for freebies at events.

figurative The writer was scrounging for inspiration to finish their novel.

Grammatical Forms of scrounging

• past tense: scrounged
• plural: scroungers
• comparative: more scrounging
• superlative: most scrounging
• present tense: scrounges
• future tense: will scrounge
• perfect tense: have scrounged
• continuous tense: is scrounging
• singular: scrounger
• positive degree: scrounge
• infinitive: to scrounge
• gerund: scrounging
• participle: scrounging

Origin and Evolution of scrounging

First Known Use: 1900 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'scrounging' is believed to have originated from the British military slang term 'scrunge' which meant to forage or gather supplies.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'scrounging' has evolved to also mean obtaining things at little or no cost through resourcefulness or cunning, often with negative connotations of mooching or sponging off others.