What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
forage
Example
The birds were foraging for seeds in the grass. [foraging: verb]
Example
The farmer went out to forage for hay for his cows. [forage: noun]
scavenge
Example
The homeless man was scavenging for food in the dumpster. [scavenging: verb]
Example
The artist used scavenged materials to create her sculpture. [scavenged: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Forage is less commonly used than scavenge in everyday language. Forage is more specific and limited to natural surroundings, while scavenge is more versatile and can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between forage and scavenge?
Both forage and scavenge are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
