found
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to set up or establish on a firm basis or for enduring existence.
to found a new publishing company.
- Synonyms:
- originate, institute, inaugurate, organize
-
to lay the lowest part of (a structure) on a firm base or ground.
a house founded on solid rock.
-
to base or ground (usually followed by on orupon ).
a story founded on fact.
-
to provide a basis or ground for.
verb
adjective
-
equipped, outfitted, or furnished.
He bought a new boat, fully found.
-
provided or furnished without additional charge, as to a tenant; included within the price, rent, etc. (often used postpositively).
Room to let, laundry found.
noun
verb (used with object)
-
to melt and pour (metal, glass, etc.) into a mold.
-
to form or make (an article) of molten material in a mold; cast.
verb
adjective
-
furnished, or fitted out
the boat is well found
-
with meals, heating, bed linen, etc, provided without extra charge (esp in the phrase all found )
verb
-
(tr) to bring into being, set up, or establish (something, such as an institution, society, etc)
-
(tr) to build or establish the foundation or basis of
-
(also intr; foll by on or upon) to have a basis (in); depend (on)
verb
-
to cast (a material, such as metal or glass) by melting and pouring into a mould
-
to shape or make (articles) in this way; cast
Etymology
Origin of found1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, founden, funden, fonden, from Old French fonder, from Latin fundāre “to lay a foundation,” derivative of fundus “bottom, foundation”
Origin of found2
First recorded before 900, for the adjective
Origin of found3
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English founden, funden “to mix ingredients (in cooking),” from Middle French fondre “to melt, smelt, cast,” from Latin fundere “to pour (liquid from a container), empty, melt, cast”
Explanation
To found something is like laying a "foundation" for a building — note the similarity? But instead of a building, you might found a business or a charity, where you establish the groundwork upon which it can grow. The verb found goes back to the Latin word fundus, meaning "bottom," which in turn led to fundāre, meaning "to lay the bottom of something." If you were to found a library, they might build a statue of you near the entrance. If you're having trouble finding the library, look for a statue with a familiar face.
Vocabulary lists containing found
American Naturalization Test, List 3
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Chapter 2: Exploring the Americas
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Chapter 11: Rome: Republic to Empire
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The insect is often found on the stems of plants and grows up to about half-an-inch as fully grown adults, according to the University of California.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
None of the studies found statistically significant increases in income in families who received micro loans.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Lead researcher, associate Prof Anja Heilmann, said the research found smacking "does not help children and all the effects that we did find were in the direction of a harmful outcome".
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Importantly, the base found support near its lows at the rising 200-day simple moving average, while the 21-day exponential moving average has recently provided near-term comfort.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
He perked upright to watch for her approach but instead found himself whisked into the bright haze of a Recollection.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
