What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
forage
Example
The bears were foraging for berries in the forest. [foraging: verb]
Example
The farmer went out to forage for hay for his livestock. [forage: noun]
rummage
Example
She rummaged through her closet to find a suitable outfit. [rummaged: past tense]
Example
He had to rummage through the pile of papers on his desk to find the important document. [rummage: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rummage is more commonly used than forage in everyday language. Rummage is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while forage is less common and refers to a specific type of search.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between forage and rummage?
Both forage and rummage are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
