scrounge
verb
ˈskrau̇nj 
scrounged; scrounging
transitive verb
1
: steal, swipe
2
a
: to get as needed by or as if by foraging, scavenging, or borrowing
scrounging enough money for a bus ticket
b
: finagle, wheedle —often used with up
intransitive verb
: to search about and turn up something needed from whatever source is available
also : to actively seek money, work, or sustenance from any available source
scrounger noun
Synonyms
- eke (out)
- scrape (up or together)
- squeeze
- wrest
- wring
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I managed to scrounge enough money for a bus ticket. He's always scrounging off his friends instead of paying for things himself. We scrounged around for firewood. We managed to scrounge some firewood.
Recent Examples on the Web Masala recalled a major NATO exercise in Norway a few years ago, to which the Bundeswehr sent more than 5,000 soldiers but had to scrounge up basic supplies such as gloves from other units. 
Markus Ziener, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 But excessive levels of stock gathering dust is not the only reason why management now has to scrounge under sofas looking for spare change. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2022 McCormick's campaign, meanwhile, has been waging a fight in court to scrounge for votes that might help him close the gap with Oz. CBS News, 27 May 2022 The country’s reliance on a handful of players has made life harder for new parents, who have been forced to scrounge for rare supplies of baby formula. Lauren Debter, Forbes, 17 May 2022 Sanctions had choked off the Kremlin’s access to foreign reserve currencies, leaving central bankers searching to scrounge up enough greenbacks to pay lenders. Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2022 The loss could be a crusher for IU (18-11, 9-10), which is trying to scrounge a spot in March Madness. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Mar. 2022 In the administration’s early days, the government was struggling to scrounge up enough vaccine for those who wanted it. Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2021 To be clear, other Taiwanese corporations have managed to scrounge up qualified women—a fair number of them, in fact. Claire Zillman, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2022 See More
Markus Ziener, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 But excessive levels of stock gathering dust is not the only reason why management now has to scrounge under sofas looking for spare change. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2022 McCormick's campaign, meanwhile, has been waging a fight in court to scrounge for votes that might help him close the gap with Oz. CBS News, 27 May 2022 The country’s reliance on a handful of players has made life harder for new parents, who have been forced to scrounge for rare supplies of baby formula. Lauren Debter, Forbes, 17 May 2022 Sanctions had choked off the Kremlin’s access to foreign reserve currencies, leaving central bankers searching to scrounge up enough greenbacks to pay lenders. Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2022 The loss could be a crusher for IU (18-11, 9-10), which is trying to scrounge a spot in March Madness. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Mar. 2022 In the administration’s early days, the government was struggling to scrounge up enough vaccine for those who wanted it. Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2021 To be clear, other Taiwanese corporations have managed to scrounge up qualified women—a fair number of them, in fact. Claire Zillman, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
alteration of English dialect scrunge to wander about idly
First Known Use
circa 1909, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
scrounge
verb
as in to earn
to get with great difficulty scrounged up the money to pay his dental bills Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- earn
- procure
- wrest
- obtain
- wring
- squeeze
- acquire
- eke (out)
- attain
- scrape (up or together)
- secure
- land
- gain
- draw