find out

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Explanation of "find out"

Definition: The phrase "find out" is a verb phrase that means to discover something by making an effort, asking questions, or investigating. It is used when you learn new information that you did not know before.

Usage Instructions

• Context: Use "find out" when you want to express that you have learned something new, either through inquiry or by chance. It can also refer to discovering facts or details after some investigation.

Examples

1. Simple Usage:

   • "I need to find out what time the meeting starts."
   • (Here, the person is asking or checking to learn the meeting time.)

2. Accidental Discovery:

   • "I found out that my friend is moving to another city."
   • (In this case, the speaker learned this information unexpectedly.)

3. Investigative Context:

   • "The detective worked hard to find out who committed the crime."
   • (This shows an effort to discover information through investigation.)

Advanced Usage

• When using "find out" in more complex sentences, you might include clauses or additional information:
  • "After several experiments, the scientists were able to find out how the disease spreads."
  • (This shows a more formal context involving research.)

Word Variants

• Noun Form: "finding out" (the process of discovering something)
  • "His finding out about the surprise party made it less surprising."
• Related Verbs: "discover," "learn," "determine"

Different Meanings

While "find out" generally relates to discovering information, it can also imply: - Catching Someone: "find out" can mean to catch someone in a mistake or wrongdoing. - "He was found out when his lies didn’t match." - (This implies that someone was caught in a falsehood.)

Synonyms

• Discover
• Learn
• Ascertain
• Determine
• Uncover

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• Get to the bottom of: This idiom means to investigate something thoroughly to understand it completely, similar to "find out."

  • "We need to get to the bottom of this issue."

• Figure out: This phrasal verb can be used in a similar way to "find out," but often implies solving a problem or understanding something.

  • "I can’t figure out why my computer won’t start."

Summary

In summary, "find out" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the process of discovering information, whether through inquiry, investigation, or unexpectedly.

Academic

Verb

1. trap; especially in an error or in a reprehensible act
   • He was caught out
   • She was found out when she tried to cash the stolen checks
2. find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
   • I want to see whether she speaks French
   • See whether it works
   • find out if he speaks Russian
   • Check whether the train leaves on time
3. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
   • I learned that she has two grown-up children
   • I see that you have been promoted
4. establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
   • find the product of two numbers
   • The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize

Synonyms

• catch out
• determine
• check
• see
• ascertain
• watch
• learn
• hear
• get word
• get wind
• pick up
• get a line
• discover
• find