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Definitions

scour

[skouuhr, skou-er] / skaʊər, ˈskaʊ ər /
VERB
clean, polish thoroughly
Synonyms
STRONG
abrade brush buff burnish cleanse flush furbish mop pumice purge rub sand scrub wash whiten
Antonyms
STRONG
dirty
WEAK
ignore overlook rust
VERB
search thoroughly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
comb ransack rummage
STRONG
beat find forage grub hunt inquire rake rout seek
WEAK
ferret out go over with a fine-tooth comb leave no stone unturned look for look high and low look up and down track down turn inside out turn upside down
Antonyms
STRONG
answer lose neglect
WEAK
dirty ignore overlook rust

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The University of Plymouth's Cosmic Dust in the City project aims to "inspire curiosity" and encourage people to scour gutters and rooftops safely in the quest for micrometeorites.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

It is unclear whether U.S. air power, used to scour the Iranian coastline along the strait, would be enough to provide relief.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

But many viewers interpreted the spot not as a feel-good story about pets but as a peek into a world where your doorbell camera can be used to scour video across neighborhoods and beyond.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

So when large-language models like ChatGPT scour the internet for answers to users’ prompts, that boosts Fastly’s traffic.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

I scour my room, but it’s nowhere to be found.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett