B2verb1K

Found

UK /["/faʊnd/","/faʊndz/","/ˈfaʊndɪd/","/ˈfaʊndɪŋ/"]/US /["/faʊnd/","/faʊndz/","/ˈfaʊndɪd/","/ˈfaʊndɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to start something, such as an organization or an institution, especially by providing money

In simple words: To discover something that was lost.

Examples

to found a club/company/school
Her family founded the college in 1895.
the **founding members** of the European Union
He was a founding editor of the journal.
He founded a new religion.
She founded the company 20 years ago.
The town was founded by English settlers in 1790.
French settlers founded New Orleans.
the founding generation of immigrants
Their marriage was founded on love and mutual respect.

Usage notes

Use 'found' when something is located or discovered after a search. It can be formal or informal, but in formal contexts, you might use 'discovered' instead.

Grammar pattern

found + object

Memory hint

Think of the word 'found' as 'found it' when you finally see something you lost!

Collocations

found out
found guilty
found a solution
found evidence
found information

Synonyms

establish

Antonyms

lost
misplaced

Common mistakes

'Found' is sometimes incorrectly used in place of 'found out' for discovering new information.
Learners may confuse 'found' (past of find) with 'found' (to establish), which have different meanings.
'Finds' is often used incorrectly as the past tense instead of 'found'.